Chenais, Erika
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
Abstract
This study investigated local epidemiology, impact and actions taken by smallholder pig farmers during an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in rural Uganda. Data collection included the biological sampling of sick or dead pigs, structured interviews using a questionnaire and geospatial records of risk locations for ASF. Following confirmation of the presence of ASF virus by conventional PCR, all households that reported pig deaths were considered ASF positive. Data analysis used descriptive statistics and content analysis of questionnaire data. The spatial distribution of positive households, risk locations for ASF and pig populations were analysed using a hexagonal grid; retrospective space-time permutation was used to detect spatio-temporal clusters. Of the 128 pigkeeping households in the study village, 61 ASF positive households were identified. Out of these, 43 reported selling and 34 consuming dead pigs. Three households reported disposing of carcasses in a safe way (in a latrine or by burning). The pig population in the ASF positive households was reduced by 48 %, compared to a reduction of 2 % in the ASF negative households. The reduction in pig population was spatially interconnected on a hexagonal level and associated with high pig density hexagons at the start of the outbreak and with the presence of risk locations for ASF (trading centres, pork restaurants and slaughter slabs). Two significant spatio-temporal outbreak clusters were detected. The opportunities to study ASF in smallholder settings in the immediate temporal connection to outbreaks are rare and the study gave unique insights that deepen the epidemiological and social understanding of ASF in the smallholder context.
Keywords
ASF; Semi-structured interviews; Spatio-temporal analysis; Heat map; Biosecurity; Infectious pig disease; Smallholders
Published in
Preventive Veterinary Medicine
2025, volume: 243, article number: 106601
Publisher: ELSEVIER
SLU Authors
Fischer, Klara
- Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
UKÄ Subject classification
Clinical Science
Sociology (excluding Social work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106601
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/143094