Introduction
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious, fatal, economically
important, transboundary, viral disease of pigs caused by a DNA virus
belonging to the genus Asfavirus and in the family Asfaviridae (Murphyet al ., 1999; FAO, 2013; Igbokwe and Maduka, 2018). The first ASF
outbreak in Nigeria was reported in 1998 at a farm located in Lagos
(FAO, 1998; Odemuyiwa et al ., 2000). The disease has spread
widely within the country and has become endemic resulting in huge
economic losses in the pig industry (Majiyagbe, 1999; Luther, 2001;
Costard et al ., 2009; Fadiga et al ., 2013; Igbokwe and
Maduka, 2018). It is a very fatal disease that can cause up to 100%
mortality in a naïve pig population (Costard et al ., 2009). Poor
biosecurity, bad abattoir practices and extensive or free range pig
farming systems led to extensive spread of the disease in the country
(Owolodun et al ., 2010). African swine fever was previously
thought to exist only within domestic pig population with humans and
other formites potentiating its spread, however, Luther et al .
(2007a,b) reported the existence of ASF virus in the bush pig
(Potamochoerus porcus ) and warthog (Phacochoerus
aethiopicus ). It is therefore now a known fact that both domestic and
wild pigs are susceptible to ASFV but the suids are hitherto said to be
asymptomatic. The soft tick (Ornithodoros moubata) has been established
as the primary reservoir of the virus (Luka et al ., 2016; Lukaet al ., 2017a). Areas with high pig-related activities such as
marketing, consumption, and farming, have higher prevalence compared
with areas with less pig-related activities. Farm-gate buyers, marketing
systems and transport of untested pigs within the country has greatly
aided the circulation of the virus in the country (Fasina et al .,
2010) The disease is characterized by a febrile syndrome, erythema and
cyanosis of the skin, anorexia, bloody diarrhea, abortion in pregnant
sows, meningitis, interstitial pneumonia, high morbidity and mortality
(Fasina et al. 2010; Igbokwe and Maduka, 2018). Diagnosis of ASF
is based on history, clinical signs, lesions and laboratory confirmation
by viral isolation, and molecular characterization. The report
represents the investigation of an acute ASF outbreak (July-August,
2019) in pig farms in Jos, Nigeria.