Presented by Karl Stahl at the African Swine Fever Diagnostics, Surveillance, Epidemiology and Control Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya, 20-21 July 2011

1. ASFUganda
-project progress update and implications thereof
Nairobi, July 20th 2011
Karl Ståhl
karl.stahl@slu.se
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

2. Institutions involved
ASFUganda is a research consortium financed by
Sweden (SLU, Sida, FORMAS) and composed by
scientists from the Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences (SLU), MAAIF, Makerere University, UWA
and ILRI.
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

3. Research objective:
To provide an in-depth assessment of the impact of African
swine fever (ASF) in constraining the development of the
smallholder pig industry in Uganda.
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

4. Uganda
PADER
GULU
AMURU
OYAM
AMURIA
APAC
KATAKWI
NA
SOROTI
KA
SO
NG
KAM
PALLISA SIRONKO
KALIRO
O
LA
NA
BUTALEJA
KA
ULI
O
KIBOGA
ER
KIBAALE
SE
WE
KE
IG
TORORO
AN
LU
JIN
G
A
A
MUBENDE
AN
JA
TY
KAMPALA
MI
O
KASESE MPIGI
IS
AK
W
KABULA MUKONO
KANUNGU RAKAI
100 0 100 200 Kilometers
Key
ASF distribution
Districts
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

5. ASF Epidemiology
• Reservoir in soft ticks
– Survival > three years recorded
• Asymptomatic infection in warthogs
and bushpigs
• Two main mechanisms of transmission
– Sylvatic: Ticks fed on warthogs to
domestic pigs
• Current quantitative importance
unclear???
• The role of the bushpig???
– Domestic pig to pig cycle
• particularly in urban & peri-urban
areas???
• perhaps the most important mode of
transmission-currently????
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
• Where is the reservoir??? www.slu.se

6. Field activities
• A longitudinal syrvey of ASF in domestic pigs in Masaka
and Rakai districts
• Outbreak investigations, including repetitive sampling
in herds with ongoing outbreaks
• A study on the role of wild pigs (with focus on bushpigs)
in the epidemiology of ASF
• A study on virus diversity in the different hosts
• A study on ASF based on abattoir sampling. The pork
abattoir in Kampala receives pigs from all districts of the
country- snap-shot of the national situation
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

7. = point interventions done so far
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

8. Training activities
• One PhD student at Vet faculty, Makerere, as part of
bilateral Sida funded Makerere- SLU collaboration
(2010-2014)
• Two MSc students at Makerere (2010-2011)
• Transfer of knowledge on pig disease surveillance and
project implementation to MAAIF field staff
• Three short term field studies by Swedish vet students
(September-November 2010)
• Three short term field studies by Swedish vet students
(September-November 2011)
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

9. Laboratory activities
Basic laboratory diagnostic capacity for
ASF has been established at the Molecular
Biology Laboratory at Makerere University,
and the ambition is to transfer this capacity
also to the laboratory at the NADDEC in
Entebbe. In the lab all samples are tested
by ELISA and RT-PCR. Results can be
produced within 24-48 hours
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

10. Longitudinal study Masaka & Rakai
Research Implementation
• Preliminary Household data collection
Pig production data was collected and analyzed to start off the field
research activities.
• Training of Trainers
Thirteen (13) Veterinary staff will train as Trainers to implement the
research study
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

11. Longitudinal study Masaka & Rakai
Research Implementation
• Preliminary Household data collection
Pig production data was collected and analyzed to start off the field
research activities.
• Training of Trainers
Thirteen (13) Veterinary staff trained to implement the research study at
Kamuzinda farm on June 10th
•
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

12. Longitudinal study Masaka & Rakai
Field activities
• A questionnaire study with the participating farmers/stakeholders
• Serological surveillance of 30 pigs per sub-county. This is the key
activity in the project. The 30 pig sample frame is derived as follows; (2
pig farms per village each availing 3 pigs for the study x 5 villages per
sub-county = 30 pigs), over-all 30 x(16+8) = 720 pigs. This activity will
be repeated x 2-3 during the duration of the project
•Participating farmers will receive benefits of having their pigs given two
rounds of ivermectin and management skills advisory services
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

13. Longitudinal study Masaka & Rakai
•Field activities June-July and Sept-Oct
16 sub-counties in Masaka & 8 in Rakai, 240 pig farmers visited, data
collection through questionnaires, pigs sampled
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

14. Longitudinal study Masaka & Rakai
•Results
In a number of farms we detect ASFV nucleic acids in pigs without
recent history of the disease (and in most cases without an
antibody response), possibly indicating that apparently healthy
domestic pigs may be reservoirs of the virus. Second sampling
round just finalized- analysis pending.
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

15. Distribution of positive farms
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

16. Distribution of positive farms
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

17. Outbreak investigations I
Since May 2010, >25 outbreaks have been investigated and in all but 3
we have been able to confirm ASF. Results are produced within 24- 48
hours after samples have been delivered to the laboratory, facilitating an
early response in case of future outbreaks. As an added value, a number
of field staff at the respective DVO offices has been exposed to disease
investigation procedures.
•Bundibugyo-May
•Moyo- June
•Lira- Aug
•Gulu- Aug, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan
•Mityana- Oct, Jan, June
•Mpigi- Nov
•Soroti- Dec
•Kalangala- Jan
•Kampala, Wakiso- Jan, July
•Kyanamukaka-Feb
•Bukakata- Feb
•Masindilantbruksuniversitet
Sveriges
–March
•Busia- March www.slu.se

18. Outbreak investigations II
A number of outbreaks have been followed over time with detailed data
collection and repetitive samplings, to understand issues such as impact,
mortality rates and importance of virus carriers.
Pig No PCR Aug 30th PCR Sept 28th PCR Oct 21st
1 POS POS NEG
2 NEG POS POS
3 POS NEG POS
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

19. Outbreak investigations III
We found a spatial relation between ASFV PCR positive healthy pigs
detected during investigations in July 2010, and herds with mortality
during a recent outbreak in Kyanamukaka. However, it´s very difficult to
show that the ASFV positive pig was
related to the outbreak.
Monday, January 7th, 2011
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se
http://www.weinformers.net/

20. Outbreak investigations III
We found a spatial relation between ASFV PCR positive healthy pigs
detected during investigations in July 2010, and herds with mortality
during a recent outbreak in Kyanamukaka. However, it´s very difficult to
show that the ASFV positive pig was
related to the outbreak.
Monday, January 7th, 2011
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se
http://www.weinformers.net/

21. Outbreak investigations IV
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

22. Outbreak investigations V
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

23. Wildlife activities
- Bushpigs
Bushpigs are often blamed for spreading ASF to domestic pigs, however
the evidence for this is so far scarce. To understand the extent of
interaction with domestic pigs and the possibility of spread of ASF we
have initiated a study on bushpigs at the wildlife-domestic pig interface
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

24. Shrek
-the bushpig in the swamp
The most recent successful intervention was carried out with help of
local hunters in the swampy areas of Katonga basin in Lwabenge
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

25. Shrek
-the bushpig in the swamp
One bushpig captured, blood sampled and provided with a GPS
equipped tracking unit
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

26. Shrek
-the bushpig in the swamp
Unit sends GPS positions through GSM every 3 hours, and movements
can be monitored online
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

27. Viral diversity
In order to better understand relations
between virus properties and clinical
outcome, as well as relations between
outbreaks- to trace transmission
routes- a study of viral diversity of
viruses detected during the project was
initiated supported by the BecA hub-
CSIRO partnership. So far parts of the
genomes of around 40 ASFV have
been sequenced using new generation
sequencing (454), with analysis
ongoing. In addition attempts of full
genome sequencing from clinical
material using a long range PCR
strategy are currently being made.
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

28. Conclusions
•ASFV very wide spread, and affects all levels of pig producers
•Healthy domestic seronegative pigs may be important virus carriers, and
may serve as a long term reservoir of the virus
•A confirmatory diagnosis of ASF can be achieved within 48 hours. Rapid
feedback to authorities as well as to the field important
•The role of natural hosts in ASF epidemiology in Uganda still unclear
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

29. Acknowledgements
Sweden Uganda Kenya
Funding institutions MAK ILRI
•SLU •Dr Charles Masembe •Dr Richard Bishop
•Sida •Dr Denis Muhangi •Dr Edward Okoth
•Formas •Dr Susan Ndyanabo •Dr Rob Skilton
•MUIENR staff
SLU And
•Dr Sofia Boqvist MAAIF
•Prof Ulf Emanuelson •Dr Ademun Rose
•Dr Mikael Berg •Dr Chris Rutebarika
•MFS students •Martin Esau
•m.fl. •Dr Lawrence Mayega
•Dr Tonny Aliro
•DVOs, NADDEC staff
UWA
•Dr Patrick Atimnedi
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se

30. And how many chicken can you transport on a
Boda boda???????
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
www.slu.se