Analysis of surveillance and prevention plan for African Swine Fever in Italy in 2020

Abstract

Background African Swine Fever (ASF) is a challenge for pig health worldwide. The disease has spread to multiple countries on five continents. ASF‐free countries need to apply effective strategies to prevent the introduction of infection. Methods Italy implemented a surveillance and prevention plan for ASF in 2020, supported by a dedicated information system. Several pillars for action have been identified: passive surveillance in both domestic pigs and wild boar populations, verification of the implementation of biosecurity measures on farms and an awareness campaign for all involved stakeholders. Results There were some regional differences in the management of passive surveillance. In order to identify all critical points and apply corrective measures, regional authorities were called to carry out a gap analysis exercise in July 2020. There were an adequate number of samples collected from wild boar but the number of samples collected from domestic pigs was below the target in most regions. Furthermore, sample distribution within the country was not homogeneous. Conclusions During the forthcoming year, some issues must be addressed in order to establish an effective early detection system in Italian ASF‐free regions.

Estimation of R0 for the Spread of the First ASF Epidemic in Italy from Fresh Carcasses

“…Furthermore, after the first reported case, several actions aimed at eradicating the disease were taken inside the infected area, including the prohibition of hunting and other outdoor activities, active searching and disposal of wild boar carcasses, the depopulation of at-risk farms, and the stoppage of animal movements [ 26 , 29 ]. Otherwise, the incursion of ASFV in the mainland of Italy would threaten not only the areas included in the infected or surveillance zones but the entire country, given the need to enforce surveillance with the aim of contingent early detection in order to avoid new incursions or the further spread of the virus.…”

Passive Surveillance as a Key Tool for African Swine Fever Eradication in Wild Boar: A Protocol to Find Carcasses Tested and Validated in the Mediterranean Island of Sardinia

“…Community involvement in scientific processes has the potential to combine useful data collection with awareness-raising and education, helping to bridge the knowledge gap between academia and the general public [ 35 ], and well-designed citizen science projects can usefully inform research, decision making, and policy formation [ 36 ].…”

“…In their scientific opinion, the EFSA estimates the need to report, sample, and test a number of carcasses each year (wild boar dead from non-hunting causes but not those killed in road traffic accidents) equal to about 1–2% of the estimated wild boar population [ 29 ]. Thus, for example, in Italy, at least 5000 wild boars per year should be tested for a population of at least 500,000 animals in the pre-reproductive period [ 35 , 36 ]. Even if the EFSA exit strategy provides guidelines on the number of carcasses that must be found and tested as ASFV-negative to declare the disease eradicated, the opinion did not provide any indication of the practical actions to carry out when passive surveillance must be put into place [ 29 ].…”

Development and Immunological Evaluation of a Multiantigen Thermostable Nanovaccine Adjuvanted with T-Cell-Activating Scaffold for African Swine Fever

“…In 2007, ASFV genotype II emerged in Georgia and continued to spread to more countries . The spread of ASF continues with outbreaks in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, the Philippines, and other countries. − Because no effective ASF vaccine is available, the prevention and control of ASF are primarily at the level of biosecurity, employing multiple lines of defense that block the spread of ASF . These approaches are less than optimal, and improvements in infection prevention and control and the development of an ASF vaccine are essential.…”