Emergence of African Swine Fever in Poland (2014–2021). Successes and Failures in Disease Eradication
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agriculture Review Emergence of African Swine Fever in Poland (2014–2021). Successes and Failures in Disease Eradication Grzegorz Wo´zniakowski 1,* , Zygmunt Pejsak 2 and Artur Jabło ´nski 3 1 Department of Diagnostics and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toru´n,Lwowska 1 Street, 87-100 Toru´n,Poland 2 University Center of Veterinary Medicine JU-AU, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, 30-059 Krakow, Poland; [email protected] 3 Center of Translational Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska Street 100, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: African swine fever (ASF) in Poland has been a major concern for pig production for the last seven years. The main constrains in ASF eradication in Poland are due to the high density of wild boar in ASF-affected areas of the country. Other factors, responsible for long-distance ASF spread to new regions of the country, are mainly related to human-mediated activity and lack of awareness of the potential disease threat to pig production. In the case of pig holdings, the only effective measure of ASF prevention is strict implementation of biosecurity rules. Despite many efforts to implement these measures, the disease occurred in a number of voivodeships, poviats and counties of Poland, primarily in eastern Poland; however, starting from 2019, also in the western part of the country. Further recommendations to eradicate ASF in Poland or at least to minimize the economic loss caused by ASF in pig production include effective wild boar population management strategies along with the implementation of strict biosecurity measures. The observations from the last seven years of ASF Citation: Wo´zniakowski,G.; Pejsak, epizootic in Poland clearly indicate that the disease could not have been effectively controlled in wild Z.; Jabło´nski,A. Emergence of boar population and could only be restricted in domestic pig population following severe biosecurity African Swine Fever in Poland (2014–2021). Successes and Failures in rules. As for ASF spread control in wild boar population, the measures applied in other EU countries Disease Eradication. Agriculture 2021, include active wild boar carcass search and disposal along with sanitary and reduction hunting. 11, 738. https://doi.org/10.3390/ These measures have also been shown non-effective. The only solution for future sustainable pig agriculture11080738 production in Poland seems to be strict collaboration between pig producers, veterinary inspection, and hunting associations. Academic Editor: Nikola Puvaˇca Keywords: African swine fever; wild boar; pig production; eradication measures; biosecurity Received: 22 June 2021 Accepted: 2 August 2021 Published: 3 August 2021 1. Introduction Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral The first outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar was found in Poland with regard to jurisdictional claims in on 14 February 2014, approximately 10 km from the border with Belarus, near the town published maps and institutional affil- Grzybowszczyzna (Sokólski county, Podlaskie voivodeship), where dead wild boar was iations. collected frozen from the river which may indicate that the infected wild boar were present in the identified area earlier than expected [1,2]. The wild boar carcass was excavated from the ice and the samples were sent to the National Veterinary Institute-National Research Institute (NVRI) in Pulawy (Poland). After routine diagnostic tests, the presence of ASF Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. virus (ASFV) genetic material was found in internal organs and blood of dead wild boar. It Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. appeared that the first ASF wild boar outbreak in Poland occurred due to direct disease This article is an open access article spread from the Republic of Belarus [1,2]. distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons 2. Current ASF Situation in Poland Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ From February 2014 until this day (30 July 2021), over 12,764 outbreaks of ASF in 4.0/). wild boar and 400 outbreaks of this disease in domestic pigs have been confirmed in Agriculture 2021, 11, 738. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080738 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agriculture Agriculture 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 11 2. Current ASF Situation in Poland Agriculture 2021, 11, 738 2 of 10 From February 2014 until this day (30 July 2021), over 12,764 outbreaks of ASF in wild boar and 400 outbreaks of this disease in domestic pigs have been confirmed in Poland [3–5]. Unfortunately, despite the measures implemented for ASF eradication, the number of outbreaksPoland in [wild3–5]. boarUnfortunately, and domestic despite pigs theis increasing measures dynamically, implemented which for ASF has eradication, the been evident particularlynumber of during outbreaks the last in two wild years boar [1–5]. and domestic Similarly, pigs the increasing is increasing number dynamically, which of ASF outbreakshas in been domestic evident pigs particularly has been confirmed. during the Regarding last two years the [structure1–5]. Similarly, of pig the increasing production, the numbermajority of of ASF non-commercial outbreaks in an domesticd backyard pigs pig has holdings been confirmed. are located Regarding in the the structure eastern part of Poland,of pig production, while big commercial the majority pig of holdings non-commercial are mainly and concentrated backyard pig in holdings the are located west of the countryin the (Lubuskie eastern part and of Wielkopols Poland, whilekie bigvoivodeships). commercial In pig terms holdings of wild are mainlyboar concentrated population multiplicityin the west and of thedensity, country the (Lubuskiecurrent number and Wielkopolskie of wild boar voivodeships). is close to 67 In terms of wild thousand heads.boar The populationhighest density multiplicity of wild boar and is density, observed the in current western number Poland of because wild boar is close to of afforestation 67and thousand environmental heads. Theconditions. highest density of wild boar is observed in western Poland because The first ASFof afforestationoutbreak among and domestic environmental pigs in conditions. 2021 has been confirmed in Lubuskie voivodeship in a largeThe commercial first ASF outbreak pig holding among keeping domestic almost pigs in16,000 2021 swine, has been while confirmed the in Lubuskie second outbreakvoivodeship occurred at inthe a largeend of commercial May 2021 in pig a holdingcommercial keeping pig holding almost 16,000keeping swine, while the 3373 pigs in Wielkopolskiesecond outbreak voivodship occurred [3]. atThen, the endsurprisingly, of May 2021 an additional in a commercial 34 outbreaks pig holding keeping emerged in different3373 pigsparts in of Wielkopolskie the country. The voivodship majority [of3]. new Then, outbreaks surprisingly, in domestic an additional pigs 34 outbreaks occurred in an areaemerged adjacent in different to previous parts outbreaks of the country. in wild The boar. majority of new outbreaks in domestic pigs With someoccurred exceptions, in an including area adjacent recent to previousASF outbreak outbreaks in inMarch wild boar.2021, the ASF seasonality in domesticWith somepig population exceptions, in including Poland recentand Central ASF outbreak Europe in usually March 2021, falls the ASF season- between June andality the in end domestic of September pig population [5,6–8]. Where in Poland wild and boar Central population Europe is concerned, usually falls between June the highest numberand theof ASF end ofoutbreaks September in wild [5–8 ].boar Where is identified wild boar in population spring and is summer. concerned, the highest Since there is numberno effective of ASF vaccine outbreaks against in wildASF, boar the iseradication identified inmeasures spring andfocus summer. on Since there is no effective vaccine against ASF, the eradication measures focus on limitation of wild limitation of wild boar population along with strict implementation of biosecurity rules boar population along with strict implementation of biosecurity rules by the owners of by the owners of pig holdings. pig holdings. 3. ASF-Affected3. Area ASF-Affected Enlargement Area in Enlargement Poland in Poland The ASF-affectedThe area ASF-affected in Poland expands area in Poland dynamically, expands similarly dynamically, to the similarlyemergence to of the emergence of new ASF outbreaksnew in ASF wild outbreaks boar and in domestic wild boar pigs and [1,2,5,8] domestic (Figures pigs [1 1,2 and,5,8] 2). (Figures 1 and2). Figure 1. AfricanFigure swine1. African fever swine in Poland fever 2014–2021.in Poland 2014–2021. The number The of nu ASFmber outbreaks of ASF inoutbreaks wild boar in andwild domestic boar and pigs. Source: General Veterinarydomestic Inspectorate:pigs. Source: https://bip.wetgiw.gov.pl/asf/mapa/ General Veterinary Inspectorate: (accessedhttps://bip.wetgiw.gov.pl/asf/mapa/ on 30 July 2021). (accessed on 30 July 2021). Agriculture 2021, 11, 738 3 of 10 Agriculture 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 11 FigureFigure 2. 2.Current Current epidemiological epidemiological situationsituation regardingregarding thethe emergenceemergence ofof ASFASF in in Poland. Poland. TheThe ASF-ASF- affected areas, in particular voivodeships, are indicated. The yellow points indicate wild boar ASF affected areas, in particular voivodeships, are indicated. The yellow points indicate wild