Abstract:

The European Commission requested EFSA to compare the reliability of wild boar density estimates across the EU and to provide guidance to improve data collection methods. Currently, the only EU-wide available data are hunting data. Their collection methods should be harmonised to be comparable and to improve predictive models for wild boar density. These models could be validated by more precise density data, collected at local level e.g. by camera trapping. Based on practical and theoretical considerations, it is currently not possible to establish wild boar density thresholds that do not allow sustaining African swine fever (ASF). There are many drivers determining if ASF can be sustained or not, including heterogeneous population structures and human-mediated spread and there are still unknowns on the importance of different transmission modes in the epidemiology. Based on extensive literature reviews and observations from affected Member States, the efficacy of different wild boar population reduction and separation methods is evaluated. Different wild boar management strategies at different stages of the epidemic are suggested. Preventive measures to reduce and stabilise wild boar density, before ASF introduction, will be beneficial both in reducing the probability of exposure of the population to ASF and the efforts needed for potential emergency actions (i.e. less carcass removal) if an ASF incursion were to occur. Passive surveillance is the most effective and efficient method of surveillance for early detection of ASF in free areas. Following focal ASF introduction, the wild boar populations should be kept undisturbed for a short period (e.g. hunting ban on all species, leave crops unharvested to provide food and shelter within the affected area) and drastic reduction of the wild boar population may be performed only ahead of the ASF advance front, in the free populations. Following the decline in the epidemic, as demonstrated through passive surveillance, active population management should be reconsidered.

Keywords: African swine fever; passive surveillance; population density; population density threshold; population reduction; population separation; wild boar.

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African swine fever in wild boar

Bruno Garin-Bastuji+28 authors

Correspondence: Email: ue.aporue.asfe@waha

This is an open access article under the terms of the http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Box 1: Summary of experience gained during passive surveillance of ASF to motivate stakeholders

Notes

Suggested citation: EFSA AHAW Panel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare) , More S, Miranda MA, Bicout D, Bøtner A, Butterworth A, Calistri P, Edwards S, Garin‐Bastuji B, Good M, Michel V, Raj M, Saxmose Nielsen S, Sihvonen L, Spoolder H, Stegeman JA, Velarde A, Willeberg P, Winckler C, Depner K, Guberti V, Masiulis M, Olsevskis E, Satran P, Spiridon M, Thulke H‐H, Vilrop A, Wozniakowski G, Bau A, Broglia A, Cortiñas Abrahantes J, Dhollander S, Gogin A, Muñoz Gajardo I, Verdonck F, Amato L and Gortázar Schmidt C, 2018. Scientific Opinion on the African swine fever in wild boar. EFSA Journal 2018;16(7):5344, 78 pp. 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5344 [CrossRef]

Requestor: European Commission

Question number: EFSA‐Q‐2018‐00141

Panel members: Dominique Bicout, Anette Bøtner, Andrew Butterworth, Paolo Calistri, Klaus Depner, Sandra Edwards, Bruno Garin‐Bastuji, Margaret Good, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Virginie Michel, Miguel Angel Miranda, Simon More, Mohan Raj, Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Liisa Sihvonen, Hans Spoolder, Jan Arend Stegeman, Hans‐Hermann Thulke, Antonio Velarde, Preben Willeberg and Christoph Winckler.

Acknowledgements: The Panel wishes to acknowledge all European competent institutions, Member State bodies and other organisations that provided data for this scientific output.

Adopted: 12 June 2018

This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2018.EN-1449/full

Amended: 18 July 2018

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