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The global pig sector, with its size and dichotomy between production type and biosecurity level, is particularly vulnerable to the transmission of transboundary animal diseases such as African and classical swine fever, foot and mouth disease, or porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. All of the above pose a constant threat to swine health, mainly as result of both formal and informal international trade.
Inspired in the risk assessment methodology, FAO classified and provided an overview of the different pig disease introduction and exposure pathways, illustrated with abundant examples. Introduction pathways can be classified as formal international (live animals and products), informal international trade (live animals and products), and spread through fomites. Formal trade of pigs and pork products is regulated by legislation and measures protecting animal populations from exotic diseases. Much more difficult to control is the transboundary swine disease transmission originating through informal trade, which entails illegal smuggling, but also the informal cross-border transfer of animals and products for personal use or within informal market chains. Meat products are most commonly involved in transboundary spread, followed by fomites of different types, and live pigs, being more difficult to smuggle.
Risk assessments can aid in the identification of pathways of pathogen introduction and exposure. However, quantitative information on informal disease introduction pathways remains very scarce and often incomplete, making it difficult to estimate the actual magnitudes of risks. Nevertheless, this knowledge is deemed essential to set up risk based awareness, prevention and surveillance programs that correspond to reality. This is particularly relevant these days, with ASF spreading to new regions and countries in the past few months.
The findings have been published in BMC Veterinary Research, a peer reviewed scientific journal (Beltran-Alcrudo et al., 2019)
Friday March 8, 2019/ FAO.
http://www.fao.org
