▷ Swine Biosecurity | African Swine Fever| LANXESS

Preventing ASF Spread:

Biosecurity is the most effective way to prevent the spread of ASF. It helps reduce its impact on affected farms and support faster recovery. A successful biosecurity program include strong biosecurity planning, procedures, training, and tools, with high compliance from management, staff, and suppliers.

ASF can persist in uncooked meat and swill, making contaminated feed a major risk and possible vector for transmission. While aerial spread is also possible, it is considered minimal to other transmission routes.

STOPPING THE SPREAD OF ASF INFECTION

So how can the spread of this highly contagious and devastating pig disease be prevented and controlled?

Biosecurity is the only real way of stopping its spread. It will reduce the impact on affected farms and will be a key to clinical recovery and virus elimination, especially on larger farms. Producers need to achieve the highest possible levels of biosecurity, leveraged by good buy-in and compliance from management, their staff and their suppliers.

ASF is very good at ‘Hitching a ride’ so it spreads easily. A high proportion of spread will be by pig transportation, and so is the first target of biosecurity. However, there are many other means of spread. All other transport is a risk, from feed to dead-haul, to service vehicles, to manure removal. Perhaps the next biggest risk is from transmission via contact with wild boar. People can also be vectors, via their clothes, on their boots and equipment, or any inanimate objects they may bring onto the unit.

The virus may persist in uncooked meat products and swill for several months, and therefore could be transmitted via contaminated pig feed, or meat products ingested. Aerial spread has been demonstrated, but only over short distances and is unlikely to be a major factor.

ADVANCED BIOSECURITY IS THE ANSWER

For biosecurity to be effective against ASF there must be good planning, good procedures, good training and good tools.

Vehicles are among the primary vectors for ASF. Therefore, properly designed cleaning and disinfection areas are essential. Vehicle washes should remove manure, provide thorough cleaning and disinfection, and prevent cross-contamination. Drying and heating trucks after cleaning is beneficial but not a substitute.

Other useful biosecurity tools include disinfectant sprays at farm entrances, external washes, remote pig collection, and entry facilities like showers or a Danish entry system.
Virkon® S is a key tool in an advanced biosecurity program. While washing with water alone can reduce contamination by up to 60%, using a heavy-duty detergent can remove up to 99% of organic load.

Both Virkon® S and Virkon® LSP have been independently proven against the ASF and other major swine pathogens.

Disease	LANXESS Disinfectant	Method	Dilution rate	Contact time	Temperature
ASF	Virkon®S	EN 14675*	0.3%	15 sec	4 °C
			0.5%	30 sec	10 °C
			0.2%	5 min	10 °C
			0.13%	10 min	10 °C
			0.1%	60 min	10 °C
		EN 14675**	0.8%	5 min	4 °C
			0.4%	30 min	4 °C
ASF	Virkon®LSP	EN 14675	0.25%	1 min	10 °C

*CIS-INIA laboratory, **Wageningen university

The test method used to evaluate Virkon® S and Virkon® LSP was designed to simulate challenging real-world farm conditions - including high levels of organic soiling, hard water, and low temperature (10ºC) and short contact times.

Unlike some disinfectants, Virkon® S and Virkon® LSP remain effective against ASF in cold conditions. Adding liquid Propylene Glycol to Virkon® S can lower its freezing point to -10˚C without affecting efficacy, ensuring it stays in solution during freezing winter conditions.

Thanks to its scientifically advanced formulation, Virkon® S is the disinfectant of choice for an ASF biosecurity program, from farrowing houses to transport and slaughter plants, providing reliable protection across the entire production chain.

African Swine Fever - Advanced Biosecurity Program

The tools

Procedures

Training