The proposed study will target knowledge gaps in existing african swine fever (ASF) vector and host relationships in the U.S. Using targeted field sampling, the eastern border of current populations…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded a $150,000 Cooperative Agreement to Texas A&M Agrilife Research on December 5, 2025, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to address knowledge gaps in African Swine Fever (ASF) vector and host relationships in the United States.

The award funds targeted field sampling to update the eastern border of current ASF population ranges and to characterize and model Ornithodorus turicata (O. turicata) tick population dynamics and dispersal patterns. This modeling will define the geographic scale and timeframe at which this tick species could disperse, providing critical information to delineate surveillance and mitigation strategy ranges in the event of an ASF outbreak. The agreement also includes cooperative effort with APHIS to characterize the population genetics of African warthogs introduced to Texas, work that will inform expected behavior and ecological preferences of this invasive species to support targeted control and eradication strategies.

Performance occurs in Texas, with a period of performance from December 5, 2025, through December 4, 2026. Texas A&M Agrilife Research, the research division of the Texas A&M University System, is a land-grant research institution that serves as the ultimate recipient. The $150,000 obligation represents the full award amount.

The proposed study will target knowledge gaps in existing african swine fever (ASF) vector and host relationships in the U.S. Using targeted field sampling, the eastern border of current populations ranges will be updated. Additionally ornithodorus turicata (O.turicata) population dynamics and dispersal will be characterized and modeled, providing critical information on the scale at which this ticks could move over what time. This information would be critical in the event of an ASF outbreak, delineating ranges across which surveillance and mitigations strategies would be needed. Finally, this agreement includes a cooperative agreement effort aphis to characterized the population genetics of african warthogs that have been introduced to texas. Different warthog species have different ecological preferences that inform where they may be expected to establish their home ranges. This genetic characterization will provide critical information to inform expected behavior of this invasive species, informing targeted control and eradication strategies.