Overview

With epidemiological field studies targeted at recognised knowledge gaps, important parameters that need to be considered in risk assessment will be identified. The work is being conducted in four countries with different epidemiological scenarios with respect to the present sylvatic cycle.

The two main research questions for all four countries are:

• What are the most important factors influencing spread of infection between domestic pigs at the local and regional level?
• What are the roles and the interrelationships between the wildlife reservoirs (wild pigs and/or soft ticks (and the domestic pig species for the maintenance and transmission of ASFV?

In each country, samples are collected in at least two different geographic areas with known endemic occurrence of ASF. The field work is standardised across countries as much as possible to allow integration and comparison of results for the development of epidemiological models. The data collection is based on pigs originating from smallholder pig farms, as well as on free-ranging pigs in the villages. In addition, wildlife samples collected in the same area will provide important insights to asses the importance of the sylvatic cycle for the maintenance of ASF in the region.

Collected samples will be analysed with various diagnostic tools. This will allow determining sensitivity and specificity of the different methods.