Key result
Surveillance of 3,187 domestic pigs and wild boars in Constanța County, Romania, revealed a decline in African Swine Fever outbreaks from 93 in 2018 to 2 in 2022, with a resurgence to 21 in 2023.
Why the study?
African Swine Fever is a highly contagious, fatal disease severely affecting Romania's pig industry and wild boars, with wetlands facilitating viral spread from dense wild boar populations to domestic pigs.
Observational (n=3,187)
No
Surveillance over six years showed a decline in African Swine Fever outbreaks in Romania due to eradication measures, though a resurgence occurred in 2023, and antibody detection indicates some post-infection survival in both domestic pigs and wild boars.
Outbreak resurgence after decline signals need for sustained surveillance; leaves open the role of seropositive survivors in ASF persistence.
IMPORTANCE: African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and fatal disease severely affecting Romania's pig industry and wild boar populations. This study provides insights into the prevalence of ASF in Constanța County, where wetlands like the Danube Delta and Danube River, home to dense wild boar populations, facilitate the spread of the virus to domestic pigs. OBJECTIVE: The study examined the incidence of ASF in pig and wild boar populations over six years (2018-2023) in Constanța County, Romania's second outbreak origin in 2018. METHODS: The real-time polymerase chain reaction data from 3,187 samples (2,204 pigs and 983 wild boars) collected between 2018 and 2023 were analyzed. A 251 bp fragment of the African Swine Fever virus (ASFV) B646L gene (positions 105,320-105,570; GenBank MN194591.1), encoding the capsid protein p72, was amplified using a TaqMan assay, sequenced in 10 ASFV-positive samples, and subjected to phylogenetic analysis against ASFV GenBank references. RESULTS: Analysis revealed a decline in ASF outbreaks in Constanța County, from 93 in 2018 to only two in 2022. Despite this, 2023 saw a resurgence, with 38 cases and 21 outbreaks in pigs from nearby private households, likely due to poor biosecurity. Phylogenetic analysis of 10 ASFV isolates and GenBank sequences from Europe, Asia, and Africa confirmed 100% similarity to strain II. ELISA testing identified ASFV antibodies in 23 of 144 pigs (15.9%) and 28 of 559 wild boars (5.0%), indicating that some animals survived ASFV infection. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results revealed a steady decline in ASF outbreaks and cases in Constanța County, attributed to eradication measures. The detection of ASFV antibodies in 51 animals highlights post-infection survival in both domestic pigs and wild boars, offering valuable insight for future research on the genetic basis of acquired immunity.
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Cireasa et al. (2025) conducted an observational in African Swine Fever (n=3,187). African Swine Fever virus exposure was evaluated on Incidence of ASF outbreaks and cases. Surveillance of 3,187 domestic pigs and wild boars in Constanța County, Romania, revealed a decline in African Swine Fever outbreaks from 93 in 2018 to 2 in 2022, with a resurgence to 21 in 2023.
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