Simulundu Edgar, Lubaba Caesar H, van Heerden Juanita, Kajihara Masahiro, Mataa Liywalii, Chambaro Herman Moses, Sinkala Yona, Munjita Samuel Munalula, Munang'andu Hetron Mweemba, Nalubamba King Shimumbo, Samui Kenny, Pandey Girja Shanker, Takada Ayato, Mweene Aaron S
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia.
Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka 10101, Zambia.
Viruses. 2017 Aug 23;9(9):236. doi: 10.3390/v9090236.
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly viral hemorrhagic disease of swine. In Zambia, ASF was first reported in 1912 in Eastern Province and is currently believed to be endemic in that province only. Strict quarantine measures implemented at the Luangwa River Bridge, the only surface outlet from Eastern Province, appeared to be successful in restricting the disease. However, in 1989, an outbreak occurred for the first time outside the endemic province. Sporadic outbreaks have since occurred almost throughout the country. These events have brought into acute focus our limited understanding of the epidemiology of ASF in Zambia. Here, we review the epidemiology of the disease in areas considered nonendemic from 1989 to 2015. Comprehensive sequence analysis conducted on genetic data of ASF viruses (ASFVs) detected in domestic pigs revealed that genotypes I, II, VIII and XIV have been involved in causing ASF outbreaks in swine during the study period. With the exception of the 1989 outbreak, we found no concrete evidence of dissemination of ASFVs from Eastern Province to other parts of the country. Our analyses revealed a complex epidemiology of the disease with a possibility of sylvatic cycle involvement. Trade and/or movement of pigs and their products, both within and across international borders, appear to have been the major factor in ASFV dissemination. Since ASFVs with the potential to cause countrywide and possibly regional outbreaks, could emerge from "nonendemic regions", the current ASF control policy in Zambia requires a dramatic shift to ensure a more sustainable pig industry.
非洲猪瘟（ASF）是一种猪的高度传染性和致命性病毒性出血性疾病。在赞比亚，1912年首次在东部省报告了非洲猪瘟，目前据信仅在该省呈地方流行性。在东部省唯一的地表出口卢安瓜河大桥实施的严格检疫措施，似乎成功地限制了该疾病。然而，1989年，在地方流行省份以外首次发生了疫情。自那以后，几乎在全国范围内都有零星疫情发生。这些事件使我们对赞比亚非洲猪瘟流行病学的有限了解成为了亟待关注的焦点。在此，我们回顾1989年至2015年期间在被视为非地方流行地区的该疾病流行病学情况。对家猪中检测到的非洲猪瘟病毒（ASFV）基因数据进行的全面序列分析表明，在研究期间，I、II、VIII和XIV型参与了猪的非洲猪瘟疫情。除了1989年的疫情外，我们没有发现ASFV从东部省传播到该国其他地区的确凿证据。我们的分析揭示了该疾病复杂的流行病学情况，有可能涉及野生动物循环。猪及其产品在国内和国际间的贸易和/或流动，似乎一直是ASFV传播的主要因素。由于有可能引发全国乃至可能区域性疫情的ASFV可能从“非地方流行地区”出现，赞比亚目前的非洲猪瘟控制政策需要大幅转变，以确保养猪业更具可持续性。
