Emergence and Control of African Swine Fever

<p><span style=color: rgba(23 43 77 1)>African swine fever (ASF) is a highly lethal and contagious viral disease found in domestic pigs wild boars and wild suids and it has significant economic consequences. This disease is currently endemic in many parts of the world but the lack of an effective commercial vaccine for prevention and control makes the threat of ASF spreading to ASF-free regions more prominent. Currently the emergence of a new highly lethal genotype I and II recombinant African swine fever viruses disrupted the ability of available vaccine candidates against genotype II in order to protect pigs against ASF. The emergence of this recombinant virus is an example of the complex dynamics that involve the natural infectious cycle of this pathogen. Currently more research studies are needed to improve the control of ASF. These collections of studies include the areas of control (vaccination drugs disinfectants and immunology) epidemiology pathogenesis and diagnostics. The studies compiled in this Reprint contribute to improving the knowledge of several critical aspects of this complex disease. I encourage the scientific community of ASFV to review these published studies.</span></p>