African swine fever: A re-emerging viral disease threatening the global pig industry

TLDR: Genotype II African swine fever virus (ASFV) circulating in Europe has high pathogenicity for domestic pigs and wild boar and relies on ‘stamping-out’ policies and control of pig movements, which have a significant impact on affected regions.

Abstract: African swine fever (ASF) recently has spread beyond sub-Saharan Africa to the Trans-Caucasus region, parts of the Russian Federation and Eastern Europe. In this new epidemiological scenario, the disease has similarities, but also important differences, compared to the situation in Africa, including the substantial involvement of wild boar. A better understanding of this new situation will enable better control and prevent further spread of disease. In this article, these different scenarios are compared, and recent information on the pathogenesis of ASF virus strains, the immune response to infection and prospects for developing vaccines is presented. Knowledge gaps and the prospects for future control are discussed.