Med. Weter. 71 (2), 71-74, 2015
full text
| Truszczyński M., Pejsak Z. |
| Importance of wild boar in the spread of African Swine Fever, particularly |
| After a short characterisation of the biology and behaviour of wild boar the role of this species (Sus scrofa) in the spread of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) and ASF epidemiology was characterized in relation to the introduction of this virus to the Russian Federation, starting in 2007 and to the Ukraine in 2012. It has to bee underlined that the primary source of infection of the wild boar is the pig (Sus domestica) and particularly the contaminated swill from domestic slaughter removed to the environment. However infected wild boar can transmit the ASFV secondarily to domestic pigs. This was proved by the transmission by the wild boar to domestic swine of ASFV in Lithuania in 2013 and Poland in the beginning 2014. The definition of endemic focuses of ASFV infection is given in this paper, indicating a year round transmission cycle through spring to the next generation. It is indicated that a considerable number of administrative units in the Russian Federation are either endemic or on the way to becoming endemic. This is particularly the case in connection with the high wild boar densities. Since such high densities of wild boar are also found in other parts of Europe, going to the West and South from the Russian Federation, there is a growing possibility of the transfer of ASFV to these parts of Europe. Since wild boar may transfer this infection, procedures how to restrict the number of wild boar in this territory are also discussed in this article. It is stated that neither by hunting or trapping the density of wild boar populations can be drastically reduced. Fencing can restrict wild boar movement, however further knowledge of the ASF epidemiology and spatial distribution of wild boar are required to identify the area were fencing could be used. Taking the above mentioned difficulties into account the most effective procedure to prevent wild boar from the infection by the ASFV is to contract its transmission from domestic swine to wild boar and into areas where the ASFV is not existing, from areas where infected wild boar are present. |
| Key words: African Swine Fever, wild boar, role in transmission to swine, reduction of infected wild boar population |