African Swine Fever

Introduction

African Swine Fever (ASF) is one of the most complex diseases affecting domestic animals. It is caused by a DNA virus belonging to the family Asfarviridae. Only pigs (domesticated and wild) are affected. In domesticated pigs and European boars the clinical signs are variable. Acute forms have very high mortality and present congestive-haemorrhagic alterations and functional disorders in the digestive and respiratory systems. Ornithodorus ticks also act as biological vectors and a reservoir of the virus.

There is no treatment or effective vaccine against the virus, so the disease is controlled using rapid, reliable laboratory diagnosis and strict sanitary measures.

ASF must be notified to World Animal Health Organisation (OIE), and is considered to be one of the animal diseases causing the greatest financial losses in affected countries.

www.oie.int/esp/maladies/es_fiches.htm