Abstract: Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in Wintertime
April 21, 2023 —
Abstract: Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in Wintertime
African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread and persist in the Eurasian wild boar population. The infection pressure resulting from infected carcasses in the environment can be a major contributor to disease persistence and spread. For this reason, it is crucial to find a safe and efficient method of carcass disposal under different circumstances. In the presented study, we investigated open-air composting of carcasses under winter conditions in northeastern Europe, i.e., Lithuania. We can demonstrate that the ASF virus (ASFV) is inactivated in both entire wild boar carcasses and pieces thereof in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. Composting piles reached up to 59.0 °C, and ASFV was shown to be inactivated. However, the ASFV genome was still present until the end of the 112-day sampling period. While further studies are needed to explore potential risk factors (and their mitigation), such as destruction of composting piles by scavengers or harsh weather conditions, composting seems to present a valid method to inactivate the ASFV in wild boar carcasses where rendering or other disposal methods are not feasible. In summary, composting provides a new tool in our toolbox of ASF control in wild boar and can be considered for carcass disposal.
Carrau T, Malakauskas A, Masiulis M, et al. Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in Wintertime. Pathogens. 2023;12(2):285. Published 2023 Feb 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020285
- Next story: People on the Move: Dr. David Pyburn
- Next in category: Abstract: Development of a highly sensitive point-of-care test for African swine fever that combines EZ-Fast DNA extraction with LAMP detection: Evaluation using naturally infected swine whole blood samples from Vietnam
- Previous in category: Abstract: Estimation of a Within-Herd Transmission Rate for African Swine Fever in Vietnam
- Previous story: People on the Move: Dr. Kevin Eggers