African Swine Fever: No More A Curious Menace for Indian Swine Population

Abstract

African swine fever (ASF), a dreaded contagious viral hemorrhagic ailment of pigs was originally identified in the African continent. Its notification to World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) is obligatory due to the high mortality rates and colossal socio-economic impact associated with the disease. The etiological agent of ASF is ASF virus (ASFV), a double stranded DNA virus belonging to the genus Asfivirus in Asfarviridae family. Ornithodoros ticks are the natural transmitters of the virus. Through the sylvatic or domestic cycle, pigs acquire the infection. Previously, ASFV was endemic to African continent, but it gradually spread to other countries. Few years before, the unprecedented incursion of ASF in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and many other states has threatened the Indian swine population, where it is considered no more a curious entity in the present scenario. This brief review hopes to create awareness and concern among the readers and pig farmers about ASF.