Abstract
African swine fever virus (ASFV) continues to threaten global animal health and agricultural biosecurity. Mitigating the establishment of ASFV in the United States (U.S.) is contingent on (1) the identification of arthropod vectors and vertebrate hosts that are capable of viral maintenance and transmission in the U.S. and (2) knowledge of vector-host associations that may permit transmission. We aggregated data on vector competence, host competence and tick–host associations by systematic review of published articles and collection records to identify species that may support the invasion of ASFV in the U.S. Three species of competent soft ticks occur in the U.S., Ornithodoros coriaceus, Ornithodoros turicata, and Ornithodoros puertoricensis, however, vector competence for the majority of soft ticks in the U.S. remains unknown. Three species of competent vertebrate hosts currently occur in the U.S.: domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus), feral hogs (Sus scrofa), and common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus). Hierarchical hazard categories based on vector competence, tick–host contact rates, and vector abundance were used to semiquantitatively rank U.S. soft tick species by their relative risk for contributing to ASFV transmission to identify which soft tick species are a priority for future studies. High-risk vector and host species identified in this study can be used to focus ASFV risk assessments in the U.S., guide targeted surveillance and control strategies, and proactively prepare for an ASFV incursion event. Results indicate O. coriaceus, O. turicata, and O. puertoricensis demonstrate the highest relative risk for contributing to ASFV transmission in the U.S., however, many gaps in knowledge exist preventing the full evaluation of at least 30 soft tick species in the U.S. Further study is required to identify soft tick vectors that interact with feral swine populations, elucidate vector competence, and further understand the biology of soft tick species.
Highlights
African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a DNA virus (Family: Asfarviridae, Genus: Asfivirus) associated with severe epizootics and pathology in domestic pig populations
Hierarchical hazard categories based on vector competence, tick–host contact rates, and vector abundance were used to semiquantitatively rank U.S soft tick species by their relative risk for contributing to ASFV transmission to identify which soft tick species are a priority for future studies
Results indicate O. coriaceus, O. turicata, and O. puertoricensis demonstrate the highest relative risk for contributing to ASFV transmission in the U.S, many gaps in knowledge exist preventing the full evaluation of at least 30 soft tick species in the U.S Further study is required to identify soft tick vectors that interact with feral swine populations, elucidate vector competence, and further understand the biology of soft tick species
Summary
African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a DNA virus (Family: Asfarviridae, Genus: Asfivirus) associated with severe epizootics and pathology in domestic pig populations. The virus was first described in Kenya in 1921 (Montgomery 1921) and has emerged in regions of Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and South America facilitated by growing international trade networks and swill practices that expose swine to infection (Wooldridge et al 2006, Costard et al 2013, Roelandt et al 2017). The virus has been extirpated at considerable cost from regions, including Brazil, Cuba, and Spain, the virus remains endemic in subSaharan Africa, Madagascar, and Sardinia (Italy) and in the last decade has caused multiple outbreaks in the Republic of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Russian Federation, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and most.
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