African swine fever (ASF) is no more an exotic disease from A-list of International Epizootic Bureau but the reality of Ukrainian pig farming. Despite the considerable amount of information about ASF, there are more questions than answers. Spanish expert, member of Animal Health Research Institute, doctor Mateo del Pozo helped to find them during the meeting with pig producers organized by Zoetis Ukraine.

• When does the disease start to present after pig infecting?

• In so-called «field conditions» the incubation period lasts for 9-14 days. Mortality rate, in case of virulent form of disease, varies within 92-100%. At experimental infection (experimental conditions) symptoms appear in 2-5 days. 

  Much depends on conditions the virus is situated in. If the strain is highly-virulent clinical signs of the disease are observed from 7 days till month. Low-virulent strains «works» in another way: symptoms are hardly noticed. Infected farrowing sows represent particular danger.

• Instruction on fight against ASF is valid in Ukraine now. According to it all pigs have to be culled in three-kilometer area around the outbreak. How efficient is this demand? Was pigs depopulated at the time of ASF-cases in Spain (1985-1989)?

• This question produces lively discussions among specialists: some of them are convinced pigs have to be culled, but others are totally against. In Spain everything depended on financing in fact. In case the local authority had enough money for pay-outs for people, the depopulation was done. But when budget run short, animals were left alone.

• Is the fire used as disinfectant in Spain? How to deal with manure?

• Usually the fire in not used for disinfection. Only straw beddings, where replacement animals housed, are burnt.

  Spanish legislation obliges farms to use lagoons for manure storage and settling within six months. It is regularly handle with caustic soda. Manure can be put into ground only after three months disinfection. Such demands appeared after ASF-outbreaks in the country.

1. Why do piglets born to infected sows present special risk?
2. What are the temperature conditions of ASF virus inactivation?
3. How real is the threat of pigs’ infection by ASF through feed?
4. What disinfectants are effective against the virus?
5. How is done the decontamination of trucks for pigs’ transportation in Spain?
6. What are the terms of truck settling after disinfection and before animal upload?