The examination for African Swine Fever Virus on samples from dead pigs

Kuo-Jung Tsai

Abstract

African swine fever (ASF) is one of important viral disease of swine. The disease devastated not only in African countries, but also Russia, the Caucasus and Eastern Europe. Since August, 2018, the disease first devastated in Liaoning province and spread to each province in Mainland China. In January, 2019, the disease was reported in Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea (Dem. People's Rep.) and Laos. Asian countries try hard to prevent the incursion of ASF through border control and prevention measures. In Taiwan, the Central Emergency Operation Center is set up and followed by inter-departmental cooperation to conduct simulation exercise and quarantine and prevention measures. The examination of dead pigs is one of important task. Through the assistance of local disease control centers, samples from 175 dead pigs including 38 floating carcasses in outlying islets were sent to Animal Health Research Institute to examine for the presence of ASFV DNA from December, 2018 through July, 2019. Among 38 floating carcasses in outlying islets, 11 pig carcasses were positive. Other samples were negative.