Key result
The prevalence of ASFV-positive wild boar in Estonia decreased to 0% by February 2019, suggesting the possible absence of circulating ASFV despite the presence of seropositive animals.
Why the study?
To provide a reliable disease status for trading partners and facilitate the declaration of disease freedom, as the role of seropositive wild boar remains controversially discussed under trade restrictions.
Monitoring seropositive wild boar in the absence of ASFV-positive animals is suggested to facilitate the declaration of disease freedom from African swine fever.
Zero ASFV detections in Estonian wild boar since 2019 indicate control success; leaves open when trade restrictions may be lifted.
Estonia has been combatting African swine fever (ASF) for six years now. Since October 2017, the disease has only been detected in the wild boar population, but trade restrictions had to remain in place due to international regulations. Yet, the epidemiological course of the disease has changed within the last few years. The prevalence of ASF virus (ASFV)-positive wild boar decreased steadily towards 0%. In February 2019, the last ASFV-positive wild boar was detected. Since then, positive wild boar samples have exclusively been positive for ASFV-specific antibodies, suggesting the possible absence of circulating ASFV in the Estonian wild boar population. However, as the role of seropositive animals is controversially discussed and the presence of antibody-carriers is regarded as an indication of virus circulation at EU and OIE level, Estonia remains under trade restrictions. To make the disease status of a country reliable for trading partners and to facilitate the process of declaration of disease freedom, we suggest to monitor the prevalence of seropositive wild boar in absence of ASFV-positive animals. The possibility to include ASF in the list of diseases, for which an official pathway for recognition of disease status is defined by the OIE should be evaluated.
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Schulz et al. (2020) studied African swine fever (ASF). The prevalence of ASFV-positive wild boar in Estonia decreased to 0% by February 2019, suggesting the possible absence of circulating ASFV despite the presence of seropositive animals.
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