However, ASF entered into four EU member countries in 2014, namely Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, and Estonia and in 2017, ASF was reported for the first time in Czech Republic and Romania ( 7). Moreover, contingency plans were revised and the diagnostic capabilities of the EU labs were assured. Among the protection measures implemented by EU member countries bordering the Russian Federation were actions such as improving cleaning and disinfection of livestock vehicles, suspension of livestock markets, surveillance, enhanced biosecurity on farms, and awareness campaigns. As a result of the disease introduction and spread throughout the Russian Federation and Belarus, the EU strengthened its preparedness against ASF. However, in 2007, ASF was introduced into Georgia, from there it spread to neighboring countries Azerbaijan and Armenia. Since 1978 and until recently, the Italian island of Sardinia has been the only European ASF-infected area ( 6). Adequate implementation of sanitary measures will reduce the number of secondary outbreaks on domestic pig farms, which will decrease the potential contamination of the environment and, finally minimize the likelihood of infection in wild boar ( 5). Therefore, prevention and control of the disease is mainly based on the early detection of the disease by timely recognition in the field and efficient laboratory diagnosis, followed by the implementation of strict sanitary measures ( 2– 4). No vaccine or treatment is available against ASF. In the southern and eastern parts of the African continent and the Iberian Peninsula, ASF can also be transmitted by biological vectors, infected soft ticks belonging to the Ornithodoros genus ( 2). Susceptible pigs can be infected by direct or indirect contact with infectious animals or their fluids, ingestion of contaminated animal feed, pork, or pig products, or contact with contaminated surfaces or fomites (clothing, footwear, vehicles, farming tools, etc.) acting as mechanical vectors ( 1). Finally, all experts identified that the important preventive measures for non-commercial and outdoor farms is to improve access of those farms to veterinarians and health services.Īfrican swine fever (ASF) is an infectious disease of swine notifiable in the European Union (EU) and to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Other important preventive measures for all farms were education of farmers, workers, and operators no contact between farmers and farm staff and external pigs appropriate removal of carcasses, slaughter residues, and food waste proper disposal of manure and dead animals, and abstaining from hunting activities during the previous 48 h (allowing a 48 h interval between hunting and being in contact with domestic pigs). All experts agreed that some of the important preventive measures for all three types of farms were: the identification of animals and farm records strict enforcement of the ban on swill feeding and containment of pigs, so as to not allow direct or indirect pig–pig and/or pig–wild boar contacts. Subsequently, these measures were assessed by ASF experts for their relevance in the mitigation of ASF spread on the three mentioned types of farms. From this literature review, 37 measures were identified as preventive measures for the introduction and spread of ASF. A total of 52 documents were selected for the final review process, which included scientific articles, reports, EU documents and official recommendations, among others. The search was performed in PubMed and using a common browser. This study systematically reviewed available measures to prevent the spread of ASF in the EU domestic pig sector distinguishing between commercial, non-commercial, and outdoor farms. In the absence of an effective vaccine or treatment to ASF, introduction and spread of ASF onto domestic pig farms can only be prevented by strict compliance to control measures. However, despite these efforts, ASF has been reported in thirteen different countries (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Moldova, Czech Republic, and Romania). In order to avert ASF spread, mitigation measures targeting both populations have been established. 5Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Brescia, Italyĭuring the past decade, African swine fever (ASF) has spread from the Caucasus region to eastern European Union countries affecting domestic pig and wild boar populations.4GD Animal Health Research Institute, Deventer, Netherlands.3Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.2Animal Health Research Centre, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CISA), Madrid, Spain.
1VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno 1 and Silvia Bellini 5
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