Prevention, control and vaccine development of African swine fever: challenges and countermeasures

Abstract:

African swine fever (ASF) is a hemorrhagic and devastating infectious disease of pigs caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), with mortality up to 100%. The first ASF outbreak occurred in China in August 2018, followed by 69 cases of ASF in 18 provinces in more than three months, causing a heavy burden to the pig industry. Based on the global epidemic situation of ASF and the experience of prevention and control in other countries, the ASF control and eradication situation in China is extremely complex and serious. The availability of effective and safe ASF vaccines is an urgent requirement to reinforce control and eradication strategies. Therefore, this article starts with the latest findings of ASFV, summarizes the progress in prevention and control strategies and vaccine approaches for ASFV. We also discuss the challenges of preventing and controlling ASF, focusing on current vaccine strategies, the gaps, future research directions, and key scientific issues in commercial applications. We hope to provide basic information for the development of vaccines and prevention control strategies against this disease in China.