ASF epidemiology [Lessons from the outbreak in Spain] www.sabio-irec.com Christian.Gortazar@uclm.es
Presentation structure Context ASF history The Spanish pig industry Wild boar in Spain Are we ready for ASF? Key messages
Presentation structure Context ASF history The Spanish pig industry Wild boar in Spain Are we ready for ASF? Key messages
CATEGORY DEFINITION PICTURE Wild boar Wild ancestor of the pig, native, game species. Can eventually be managed (feeding, fencing) or farmed. Feral pig and pig/wild boar crossbreds Feral invasive animals, often non-native, game species. Can eventually be managed (feeding, fencing) or farmed. Wild Free-range domestic pig Backyard domestic pig Open-air domestic pig Owned pig allowed to range more or less free. Biosecurity varies between seasons, countries and owners. Owned pig, not commercial, low biosecurity. Usually for family consumption and local exchange. Owned pig, commercial, relatively low biosecurity. Increasing due to animal welfare/public. Domestic Closed farm domestic pig Owned pig, commercial, high biosecurity. Limited contact risk with other groups listed above.
The domestic wild gradient
Presentation structure Context ASF history The Spanish pig industry Wild boar in Spain Are we ready for ASF? Key messages
African swine fever history 1957 1960 Till 1970 introduced to Portugal fist detection in Spain expanded to France, Belgium, Netherlands and Italy 1995 Spain ASF-free again 1977 press article
African swine fever history
Wildlife and infection maintenance wild boar play a secondary role and are unable to maintain ASF
Wildlife and infection maintenance ASFORCE (Collab. JM Sánchez-Vizcaino): Wild boar life-trapping in Sardinia, 2014
2014 2015
2016 2017
Wildlife and infection maintenance So what?
Presentation structure Context ASF history The Spanish pig industry Wild boar in Spain Are we ready for ASF? Key messages
The Spanish pig sector Largest EU pig producer Close to 50 million slaughter pigs Close to 3 million (semi free-range) Iberian pigs Total pig number doubled since 1985
Presentation structure Context ASF history The Spanish pig industry Wild boar in Spain Are we ready for ASF? Key messages
Wildlife population trends in Europe
Hunting bag Wild boar population trend in Spain 350000 300000 Hunting bag 300000 wild boar means there are in Spain >1 million wild boar 250000 200000 150000 100000 ASF-free since 1995 At current growth levels, pop. will reach 2 million wild boar in 2025 50000 0 Incremento 1980-2015: 1000% Fuente: Jose Luis Garrido/FEDENCA 1980-81 1985-86 1990-91 1995-96 2000-01 2005-06 2010-11 2015-16
Presentation structure Context ASF history The Spanish pig industry Wild boar in Spain Are we ready for ASF? Key messages
A.- No action and no monitoring (worst option) B.- No action (cost>benefit), but monitoring C.- Take action (cost<benefit), and always monitoring Integrated monitoring Prevention and biosafety Population control Vaccination 1. Epidemiological diagnosis 2. Decision Three options 3. Intervention (integrated control) 4. Assess effects of intervention new decision
Monitoring: ASF surveillance in place
Monitoring: wild boar populations? Need to improve & harmonize hunting statistics Need to develop and apply new population assessment tools
Prevention and biosafety EU and country level avoid entrance Industrial pig farms already with strong biosafety However be realistic and better get ready Risk situations: Free-range pigs Overabundant wild boar Urban wild boar & waste feeding
Population control Works for certain diseases, not for others Is hunting really able to control wild boar populations (and for how long)? Need to address the feeding and baiting debate
Vaccination No vaccine available research ongoing (slow) Vaccine deployment strategies in place, targeting wild boar piglets For oral TB vaccination Up to 83% successful deployment
Presentation structure Context ASF history The Spanish pig industry Wild boar in Spain Are we ready for ASF? Key messages
Key messages Current ASFV circulation is mainly maintained by wild boar Wild boar population is increasing throughout Europe All (government, hunters, farmers) need to get ready for further ASF expansion innovation needed!
IREC www.sabio-irec.com