African Swine Fever (ASF) has emerged as a catastrophic transboundary veterinary crisis, with its recent incursion into the Indian subcontinent posing a severe threat to the national porcine sector. This review synthesizes the current epidemiological dynamics, pathobiology, and socio-economic impacts of ASF, with a specific focus on the Indian context. Since the initial 2020 outbreaks in Northeastern India, molecular characterization has confirmed the circulation of highly virulent ASFV Genotype II, sharing complete nucleotide homology with contemporary Eurasian strains. The virus, characterized by its extreme environmental resilience and sophisticated immune evasion capabilities, primarily targets the myeloid lineage, resulting in an acute hemorrhagic fever. Clinical manifestations—including severe pyrexia, centripetal cyanosis, and profound hemorrhagic splenomegaly—are clinically indistinguishable from Classical Swine Fever, necessitating rapid molecular diagnostics like qPCR for definitive confirmation. Despite these capabilities, the absence of accessible point-of-care diagnostics in resource-limited regions exacerbates transboundary spread. Currently, disease management relies almost exclusively on stringent biosecurity protocols and aggressive stamping-out policies. However, the development of experimental DIVA-compatible marker vaccines, such as the ASFV-G-ΔI177L/ΔEP402R mutant, offers a promising avenue for future eradication programs without disrupting international trade. Ultimately, the rapid dissemination of ASF has inflicted profound socio-economic devastation upon India's unorganized backyard farming sector, severely destabilizing rural livelihoods and regional food security. Mitigating this escalating crisis requires sustained international collaboration, targeted financial interventions for vulnerable smallholder farmers, and the accelerated deployment of next-generation immunization strategies.
Lalhmangaihzuali, Priyanka Patir, Monika Khaklary, Jianpui Pamei (Tue,) studied this question.