SHIC-Funded ASF Molecular Epidemiology Project Identifies Prevention and Control Gaps

A project to summarize current knowledge and remaining gaps regarding the molecular epidemiology of African swine fever (ASF) was funded by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). The unprecedented expansion of ASF during the last five years produced a 218% increase in the volume of scientific publications on the subject compared to the previous five years (2010 to 2014). Due to this volume, a critical need to synthesize available scientific evidence to support and facilitate translation of the new evidence into updates for regulations and policy framework, and management recommendations for the industry, was apparent. Staff at the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a systematic review of current literature including, but not restricted to, genetic diversity of strains, the association between sequence data, and epidemiological or pathogenic features, and development and performance of molecular diagnostic tools. 

Resulting information from this study will inform appropriate preparedness and control strategies in the US. This work found globally available data, and consequently, analytical approaches, show a strong asymmetry across genotypes. This gap demonstrates eastern and southern Africa’s role as a major reservoir of virus diversity, from which new spillovers such as the one in 2007 could happen again, which needs to be continually addressed. It also reported several comprehensive lists of research priorities to be addressed to support more efficient control strategies on a global scale (Table 1). Identifying relevant research gaps in disease prevention and control informs the ultimate goal of supporting experiments and projects to fill those gaps.

GENOMICS GAPS: