Current Situation of African Swine Fever

Background

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious, widespread hemorrhagic and fatal infectious disease of swine caused by African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV).

In 2018, China first reported an ASF outbreak on a farm in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, which caused a huge impact on the development of the live pig industry. ASF has spread rapidly in China. Prevention and control of ASF and ensuring the supply of pork products have become one of the most important tasks in agriculture and rural sectors in recent years.

Transmission Routes

ASFV spreads among domestic pigs orally or nasally, via tick bites, or through skin and mucosal wounds. Pigs are infected by direct contact with diseased pigs or by exposure to feed, water, equipment, tools, clothing, shoes, vehicles, and other materials contaminated with feces, blood, urine, saliva, or other excretions/secretion of infected pigs.

In addition, mating between boars and sows and vertical transmission from sows to offspring are also important routes. Susceptibility to ASF varies among pig groups in the following order: Gilts/sows in estrus > Pregnant sows > Fattening pigs > Nursery pigs.

ASF Prevention and Control

Prevent external introduction, stop internal spread; detect early, eradicate locally. Developing and strictly implementing actionable biosecurity measures is the core of blocking viral invasion.

The First Line of Defense

Cut off transmission routes and prevent virus entry. Focus on personnel management, vehicle control, material management, and regular deworming.

The Second Line of Defense

Strengthen internal management and block cross-contamination. Use dedicated tools for each barn without cross-use; assign fixed staff to fixed areas, distinguished by colored clothing; boar health and management are critical—regular testing of boars and semen is required. Unhealthy or anorexic boars must be prohibited from use, and previously mated sows should be closely monitored.

The Third Line of Defense

Achieve early detection and early response through immunoassay and testing, controlling risks at an early stage—critical for ASF prevention. Conduct regular sampling and testing of feed lines (multi-point from silos and pipes), water lines (water tower and pipes), barns, and living areas. Test abnormal pigs daily, as well as incoming personnel and supplies.

ASF Monitoring

qPCR is considered the gold-standard method for ASF monitoring, with results available within 4 hours. It can detect a wide range of samples including blood, saliva, tissue, feces, etc. Its rapid and accurate nature allows farms to take corresponding measures based on different Ct value stages:

· Ct 35–38: Pigs appear normal and eat well; early infection stage.

· Ct 25–35: Pigs begin to show clinical signs such as anorexia and fever.

· Ct < 25: Pigs usually die within 1–2 days.

Therefore, routine and high-frequency qPCR screening is the only way to win the time window for ASF prevention and control.

Rocgene

Independently developed by Rocgene

iFIND® Automated Nucleic Acid Detection and Analysis System

Helps you usher in a new era of precise animal disease prevention and control

Ⅰ For internal and external environmental monitoring, iFIND supports large‑sample pooled screening, enabling early detection of virus on personnel and supplies. It serves as a "firewall" for on‑demand testing, dynamic monitoring, and external risk early warning systems.

Ⅱ For sporadic and small‑group outbreaks inside farms, iFIND enables precise "tooth extraction" 5–10 days in advance, promptly removing infected individuals and groups.

Ⅲ Rational pooled screening design: strict zoning and sample classification at the pooling stage; high‑risk and low‑risk samples are not mixed, avoiding difficult retesting.

Ⅳ iFIND frees technicians from tedious manual operations, helping enterprises reduce dedicated lab staffing and lower costs while improving efficiency.

Product Information

African Swine Fever Virus Nucleic Acid Detection Kit (Fluorescent PCR Method)

ASF / Swine Diarrhea Virus Duplex Nucleic Acid Detection Kit (Fluorescent PCR Method)

ASF / PRRS / Swine Diarrhea / PRV Quadruplex Nucleic Acid Detection Kit (Fluorescent PCR Method)