AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

An Environmental Issue in the Philippines

I. INTRODUCTION

According to the World Organization for Animal Health, African Swine Fever also known
as ASF is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease who is responsible for serious
production ans economic losses. It is caused by a large DNA Virus of the Asfaviridae family
which also infects ticks of the genus Ornithodoros. This is also a transboundary animal disease
or TAD which can be spread by live or dead pigs, whether domestic or wild through direct
contact, and pork products. Furthermore, transmission can also occur via indirect contract in the
means contaminated feeds and fomites such as shoes, clothes, vehicles, and equipment due to
the high environmental resistance of the ASF Virus. As of the moment, it is present in the
regions of Asia, Europe and Africa and there are no approved vaccine against it yet.

This virus has become viral and and a phenomenal issue in the Philippines after some
regions got pigs that are positive with it and people became concern of their health and safety
though it was clearly explained in the news that it doesn’t affect the human body. Due to the
current scenario of the virus around the world especially in concern with the country Philippines,
the government have been very strict and observant when it comes to importing and delivering
of meat products and related merchandises even from province to province transfer of goods. All
of the products that would be slaughtered and transported must have a permit coming from the
National Meat Inspection Services and its partners from the local government units. Even the
materials that would be used in relation to meat sales must be well disinfected.

The government is ensuring the safety of the pigs that are still free from the virus
through continuous surveillance and maintaining checkpoints on every ends of the cities and
municipalities. Affected areas such as National Capital Region in particular to Caloocan, Quezon
City, Pasig and Marikina, Rizal Province specifically Angono, Antipolo City, Cainta, Rodriguez,
San Mateo, Taytay and Teresa, Quezon province at General Nakar, and Bulacan Province
which are Balagtas, Baliuag, Bocaue, Bulacan, Bustos, Guiguinto, Malolos City, Norzagaray,
Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, Pulilan, Santa Maria and San Jose Del Monte. The pigs that were
positive from ASF were first suspected based on clinical signs but confirmation must be made
with laboratory tests, particularly to differentiate it from the classical swine fever that is actually
almost the same.

Prevention and controls were being developed especially that as previously stated that
there is no approved vaccine against ASF. The countries that are still free from the disease
depends their practices and regulations on the implementation of appropriate import policies and
biosecurity measures to ensure that neither infected live pigs nor pork products would be
allowed to be introduced into the areas free from ASF. This includes ensuring that the wastes
are properly disposed including food wastes from transporting vehicles coming from the affected
provinces and countries and policing their illegal imports.

Furthermore, after the discussion about the background of the African Swine Fever to
clearly explain what really the viral disease is, the proponents of this study would explain what
really ASF is to clarify to the people especially meat consumers and dealers or retailers under
the swine industry so that they would be knowledgeable enough on inspecting meats while
buying it, raising the said animal, and importance of the acts of humans in the spread of the virus.
Also, through this research, people would see that everyone must be aware of this issue
because swine products have been very important especially to the Filipinos as part of their
staple dishes and without it, the country might lose an industry that have been a source of
income of a lot of people. It is significant to discuss this matter as everyone might be a
transmitter of the virus from pigs to pigs if ever they will be consuming one which is
contaminated. It spreads extremely rapid due to its highly contagious nature and the ability of
the virus to persist in a protein environment for such a long period. Letting the people be
informed and have sufficient knowledge or experience will help a lot as it will prevent lack of
early detection especially regarding the manifestation of the disease.
 This study will further help communities to develop certain control strategies which is
through requiring a holistic approach in taking account the socio-economic factors as well as
animal health. Personal involvement of all operatives in pig production, even the consumers will
be a great step to develop a program that the state will lead against African Swine Fever through
reducing its risks, better pig-keeping systems to control especially imports and a lot more. Early
warning and early reaction would be the best way to go above all the actions that need to be
taken so identification and elimination would be done in the earliest possible time. But before
anything else, being aware and recognition of the disease would be the pre-requisite of the
above stated.

II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

African Swine Fever (ASF)is a disease that can influence pigs of all ages. The key
clinical signs incorporate blue-purple cyanosis of nose, ears, tail and lower legs; high fever;and
heavy discharge from eyes and nose.

According to The Pig Site, African Swine Fever is synonymous to classical swine
fever (CSF) (hog cholera). The clinical signs and after death injuries of the two diseases are
practically undefined. ASF is brought by an exceptional infection which is unmistakable from that
of CSF and which contaminates just local and wild pigs and an assortment of delicate bodied
ticks. The infection is native in Africa south of the equator, in warthogs and bramble pigs,
however the contamination in them delivers no clinical disease. It circulates among warthogs
and the delicate bodied ticks which occupy their tunnels. The ticks transmit it through all phases
of their life cycle and propagate it. It is likewise endemic in the local pigs of some African nations.

The pig (and its nearby relatives, hogs and boars) is the main regular host of the twofold
stranded, Asfarviridae family of infections, which means the infection doesn't cause harm to
people or different creatures. This doesn't imply that people and different creatures can't spread
the infection as transporters; African swine fever (ASF) is normally conveyed by arthropods, for
example, the delicate bodied tick, through take-up of blood from contaminated pigs.
 Contamination happens by means of direct contact with tissue and natural liquids from
tainted or bearer pigs, including releases from the nose, mouth, pee and defecation or
contaminated semen. It additionally spreads through transport and utilization of defiled
nourishment items, and a few cases have started from inability to conform to biosecurity norms
by bolstering waste nourishment to residential pigs. It is accepted that an exceptionally
pathogenic strain of ASF was intoduces to residential pigs and, accordingly, wild hog populaces
in the port of Poti, Georgia, in 2007 when waste nourishment from a ship beginning in South
Africa was encouraged to nearby pigs.

Despite the fact that the infection in wild pig and hogs doesn't show any indications of
the disease, it remains profoundly infectious over all swine species and can make due in pigs for
significant stretches of time post-slaughter– even in solidified cadavers. It is likewise critical to
take note of that restoring and smoking pork items doesn't wreck the infection.

According to Zimmer, K. (2019), the overwhelming outbreak of the African Swine Fever,
a lethal infection of pigs that has prompted million of pig passings in East Asia has escalated the
endeavors to build up an immunization rapidly, however the infection exhibits a few difficulties
that are yet to be survived. It just intesified to what Dirk Pfeiffer, a veterinary disease
transmission specialist at the City University of Hongkong and the United Kingdom's Veterinary
College calls the “biggest animal disease outbreak ever” particularly when it has arrived at the
nation China whom he said to have numerous pigs. Being frantic for the antibody, China has put
a financial limit around $15 million towards research about the infection, prodding scientists to
discover rapidly. The analysts have taken a few courses yet the infection demonstrated that it is
a test specifically with the very idea of the infection.

The research of Dixon, L. (2019), focused on functional genetics of ASF Virus wherein
he aimed to understand the performance of immune evasion and pathogenesis and application
of this knowledge for the improvement of vaccines. The large DNA virus causes a haemorrhagic
fever on pigs with a high socio-economic result in affected countries. Lack of vaccine has cause
the choice for disease control to be limited. The group of Dixon focused on research
underpinning the improvement of effective vaccines. Their approach has been broad to
determine order sequences of deadly and reduced or weakened isolates to help define the
molecular determinants of hostility and identify those genes involved in evading host defence.
These included proteins that inhibit host gene expression or transcription outcome, signal
molecule inductions and stress activated reaction. Their knowledge about this has been applied
to the coherent development of candidate live reduced ASF Virus vaccines by targetee gene
deletions.

On 9 September, the Department of Agriculture confirmed the first ASF

outbreak started on 25 July 2019 in mostly backyard pigs; 7,952 pigs died/culled . 14 of the 20
pig samples from Rodriguez Municipality in Rizal Province, Guiguinto Municipality in Bulacan
Province and Antipolo city, Rizal, tested positive for ASF . They suspected that the causes are
the food scraps from hotels and restaurants were fed to the pigs, or from imported pork
products.

According to the research presented by Rivas R. (2019) the ASF is not considered as
a human health threat. However, humans can be affected by the virus once tainted pork is
ingested or if people gets close to the infected meat.

According to Zagro (2018) currently there is no authorized vaccine for African Swine
Fever. Prevention on other countries depends on implementation of appropriate import policies
and biosecurity measures, to ensure that neither infected live pigs nor pork products are
introduced into areas free from the virus of African Swine Fever. This is composed of ensuring
the proper disposal of waste food from aircraft, ships or vehicles coming from affected countries
and policing illegal imports of live pigs and pork products from affected countries. During
outbreaks and in affected countries, control of African Swine Fever can be unenviable and must
be adapted to the specific epidemiological condition.

Proper sanitary measures may be employed including early detection and humane
killing of animals (with proper disposal of carcases and waste); by cleansing and disinfection;
zoning/compartmentalisation and movement controls; surveillance and elaborate
epidemiological investigation; rigorous biosecurity measures on farms.Currently there is no
treatment or vaccine for African Swine Fever. Prevention is through tight biosecurity measures.
Prevention in countries free of the disease depends on rigorous import policies, ensuring that
neither contaminated live pigs nor pork products are introduced into areas free of ASF.

As observed in Europe and in some regions of Asia, the transmission of ASF seems
to depend largely on the wild boar population density and their interaction with low-biosecurity
pig production systems. The good knowledge and governance of the wild boar population and a
good coordination among the Veterinary Services, wildlife and forestry authorities are needed to
successfully prevent and control ASF. Depending on the epidemiological condition, the
engagement of the soft tick transmitter should also be advised in the control programme.

In epidemic areas, it is difficult to get rid of the natural source in warthogs; however,
control of the soft tick vectors is important in preventing the disease. It is also important to
ensure that meat from warthogs or infected animals is not fed to sensitised pigs. All successful
destruction programs have involved the rapid diagnosis, killing and disposal of all animals on
infected premises, thorough cleaning and disinfection, movement controls and surveillance.

According to Loeffen W (2018) of Wageningen University and Research, in order to

control an transmissible disease like African swine fever at source, fast tracing of a new
outbreak is necessary. Pig farmers bear great obligation. They see their pigs daily and will be
the first to observe suspected indication. In this point, it is essential that the right follow-up steps
are taken over quickly to affirm the disease in the laboratory or to rule it out.

Introduction can only be prevented by being careful with infected animals and products
from foreign counties. The important measures for this are first, forbid imports of live animals,
meat and meat products from area where African swine fever occurs. Also bear in mind the meat
goods that are brought in from affected regions by individuals, for example by truck drivers on
long itinerary, commuting foreign workers, hunters hunting abroad and tourists. Secondly,
prohibition on swill feeding and being vigilant to exposing pigs and wild boar ‘by accident' to
possibly infected food products (a salami sandwich discarded carelessly outdoors or at a petting
zoo, or wild boar with access to kitchen waste via refuse bins or refuse heaps). Pig farmers must
also be on the alert for visitors bringing food onto their farms. Next, clean and disinfect livestock
emballement returning from abroad. And finally, clean and disinfect materials used when hunting
in or in the locality of infected areas.

African swine fever is currently one of the leading threats to the pig industry in the EU.
As there is no a vaccine against ASF, biosecurity is key to forbid its spreading between and
within local pig farms. This study had known that thirty-seven preventive measures intent at
reducing the spread of ASF among domestic pigs. These measures were also assessed by ASF
experts within the framing of the EU scenario.

According to this expert panel, the most essential preventive measures for commercial,
non-commercial, and outdoor farms were the individuality of animals and farm records; social
control of the ban on swill feeding; and containment of pigs to not allow contact with pigs from
other farms, feral pigs, or wild boar or their products. In addition to this, other preventive
measures were considered relevant in preventing ASF introduction, namely educational activity
of farmers, workers, and operators; no contact between farmers, farm staff and external pigs;
appropriate removal of carcasses, whipping residues and food waste; proper disposal of manure
and dead animals, and abstinence from hunting activities for a period of 48 h prior to any contact
with domestic pigs. Finally, all experts considered essential to assist and promote the approach
of veterinarians and health services to non-commercial and outdoor farms. Competent
enforcement of these measures can lead to fundamental advances in ASF prevention and
control, and possibility contributing to the wipeout of ASF from the EU pig sector (Jurado 2018 et.
al.)
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