Reacción a "Spain detects two cases of African swine fever in two wild boars in Bellaterra (Barcelona)"

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a double-stranded DNA cytoplasmic virus that causes severe disease in domestic pigs and wild boars. In 2007, the virus spread from East Africa (where it is endemic) to the Caucasus and Russia, and subsequently to several neighboring countries in Eastern Europe. Since then, the virus has spread and now affects more than 40 countries worldwide. In addition to Africa and Europe, it affects several regions of Asia, including China, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, threatening the entire American continent and making ASFV the largest animal pandemic today.

The differences in virulence between ASFV strains range from 100% mortality in acute infection in virulent strains (such as the one currently circulating) to low or no mortality induced by attenuated strains. The molecular mechanisms that lead to ASF virulence are an important topic for shedding light on the pathogenesis of ASF and implementing vaccine development.

Efforts to control African swine fever involve the slaughter of millions of pigs each year worldwide, as there is no effective vaccine.

Spain is the third largest exporter of pork products in the world, as well as being the only producer of Iberian pork and its products. Economically, the presence of the virus in a given region results in very serious losses for the sector.

The virus is not a zoonosis, meaning it is not transmitted to humans or other animal species. It is exclusive to pigs and wild boars, as well as other related species, such as African wild pigs. Ticks of the genus Onnithodirus moubata and Ornithodoros erraticus are a vector of transmission, as the virus can spread through them.

Despite decades of research, and mainly due to the lack of efficacy of subunit/vectorized vaccines and/or inactivated virus or recombinant protein preparations, there is currently no commercial vaccine against ASF, although Spanish groups, especially the CBM of the CSIC, have recently tested vaccine prototypes in Asia with very promising results.