Perform an experimental study to determine the diagnostic sensitivity of detecting asfv infection in aggregate oral fluids (in a pen size of 30 pigs) when initial infection of the seeder PIG occurs…

This $468,209 Cooperative Agreement, awarded June 15, 2025, by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025), supports an experimental study conducted by Lifestock, Inc. to evaluate diagnostic methods for detecting African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) infection in swine production settings. The primary deliverable is a two-phase experimental study that will determine the diagnostic sensitivity of aggregate oral fluid sampling in detecting ASFV when initial infection occurs through contaminated feed ingestion in a typical U.S. commercial pen size of 30 pigs. Phase one involves dose titration via contaminated feeding, while phase two evaluates the sensitivity of aggregate oral sampling for ASFV detection.

The research will generate data to improve understanding of aggregate sample performance and disease transmission dynamics in commonly used U.S. swine production environments. Through a sub-award partnership with production systems in Ghana, the project will also evaluate and implement alternative pen-level sampling strategies for African Swine Fever surveillance. The agreement runs through June 14, 2026, and is designed to enhance diagnostic capabilities and surveillance methodologies that protect U.S. agricultural interests from this high-consequence foreign animal disease threat.

Perform an experimental study to determine the diagnostic sensitivity of detecting asfv infection in aggregate oral fluids (in a pen size of 30 pigs) when initial infection of the seeder PIG occurs via ingestion of contaminated feed. The study will be conducted in 2 phases: 1. Dose titration via contaminated feeding, and 2. Evaluating the sensitivity of aggregate oral sampling for asfv detection. The data will improve our knowledge of aggregate sample performance, and also help understand how disease spreads in commonly used US swine production pen size. The production system in ghana (the sub-awardees) provides the opportunity to evaluate and implement alternative sampling strategies at the pen level for ASF.