Study Traces European African Swine Fever Spread to 2007 Introduction.

A study published in Genome Biology and Evolution has determined that the current circulation of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) in Europe is not due to a recent introduction. Instead, the virus has been present since 2007, with its recent proliferation largely driven by human-mediated factors, such as increased travel distances within the continent. The research, titled "Exploiting viral DNA genomes to explore the dispersal history of African swine fever genotype II lineages in Europe," analyzed ten ASFV samples collected from domestic pigs and wild boars in Lithuania between July 2016 and August 2019. These samples were part of surveillance activities conducted by the State Food and Veterinary Service of the Republic of Lithuania.

African Swine Fever is a highly virulent disease affecting domestic pigs and wild boars, characterized by severe hemorrhagic symptoms and high mortality rates. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that ASF has caused approximately $2.1 billion in direct economic losses over the past 17 years, significantly impacting the pork industry and leading to the collapse of many small and medium-sized farms, especially in China. Currently, there is no widely available vaccine against ASFV.

The virus, initially confined to sub-Saharan Africa, has spread globally, affecting regions in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and recently the Caribbean. In 2024, the World Organization for Animal Health reported ASFV outbreaks in seven European countries, resulting in the loss of over one million pigs since 2022.

Genomic analysis indicates that the ASFV genotype II strains circulating in Europe share a common ancestor with those from Africa, with no evidence of recent viral exchanges between the continents. Sequences from Europe are closely related to each other, and countries like Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Germany have played significant roles in the regional spread of the virus across Europe.

Lead author Christopher Netherton emphasized the importance of sequencing viral genomes to enhance understanding of ASFV's circulation dynamics, which is crucial for developing effective control and prevention strategies.

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-06-african-swine-fever-circulating-europe.html

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