Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in Wintertime
African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread and persist in the Eurasian wild boar population. The infection pressure resulting from infected carcasses in the environment can be a major contributor to disease persistence and spread. For this reason, it is crucial to find a safe and efficient method...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/2/285 |
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| author | Tessa Carrau Alvydas Malakauskas Marius Masiulis Paulius Bušauskas Sigitas Japertas Sandra Blome Paul Deutschmann Virginia Friedrichs Simona Pileviečienė Klaas Dietze Daniel Beltrán-Alcrudo Márk Hóvári Gary A. Flory |
| author_facet | Tessa Carrau Alvydas Malakauskas Marius Masiulis Paulius Bušauskas Sigitas Japertas Sandra Blome Paul Deutschmann Virginia Friedrichs Simona Pileviečienė Klaas Dietze Daniel Beltrán-Alcrudo Márk Hóvári Gary A. Flory |
| author_sort | Tessa Carrau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread and persist in the Eurasian wild boar population. The infection pressure resulting from infected carcasses in the environment can be a major contributor to disease persistence and spread. For this reason, it is crucial to find a safe and efficient method of carcass disposal under different circumstances. In the presented study, we investigated open-air composting of carcasses under winter conditions in northeastern Europe, i.e., Lithuania. We can demonstrate that the ASF virus (ASFV) is inactivated in both entire wild boar carcasses and pieces thereof in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. Composting piles reached up to 59.0 °C, and ASFV was shown to be inactivated. However, the ASFV genome was still present until the end of the 112-day sampling period. While further studies are needed to explore potential risk factors (and their mitigation), such as destruction of composting piles by scavengers or harsh weather conditions, composting seems to present a valid method to inactivate the ASFV in wild boar carcasses where rendering or other disposal methods are not feasible. In summary, composting provides a new tool in our toolbox of ASF control in wild boar and can be considered for carcass disposal. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:18:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-345e664818b44ee5925d733b35ce2fe7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:18:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-345e664818b44ee5925d733b35ce2fe72023-11-16T22:34:32ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172023-02-0112228510.3390/pathogens12020285Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in WintertimeTessa Carrau0Alvydas Malakauskas1Marius Masiulis2Paulius Bušauskas3Sigitas Japertas4Sandra Blome5Paul Deutschmann6Virginia Friedrichs7Simona Pileviečienė8Klaas Dietze9Daniel Beltrán-Alcrudo10Márk Hóvári11Gary A. Flory12Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, GermanyDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes 18, LT47181 Kaunas, LithuaniaEmergency Response Division, State Food and Veterinary Service, Siesiku 19, LT07170 Vilnius, LithuaniaEmergency Response Division, State Food and Veterinary Service, Siesiku 19, LT07170 Vilnius, LithuaniaCenter for Practical Training and Experimentation, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Akaciju 2, LT54310 Kaunas, LithuaniaInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, GermanyInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, GermanyInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, GermanyMolecular Biology and GMO Department, National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, J. Kairiukscio 10, LT08409 Vilnius, LithuaniaInstitute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, GermanyFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, 1054 Budapest, HungaryFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, 1054 Budapest, HungaryG.A. Flory Consulting, Mount Crawford, VA 22801, USAAfrican swine fever (ASF) continues to spread and persist in the Eurasian wild boar population. The infection pressure resulting from infected carcasses in the environment can be a major contributor to disease persistence and spread. For this reason, it is crucial to find a safe and efficient method of carcass disposal under different circumstances. In the presented study, we investigated open-air composting of carcasses under winter conditions in northeastern Europe, i.e., Lithuania. We can demonstrate that the ASF virus (ASFV) is inactivated in both entire wild boar carcasses and pieces thereof in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. Composting piles reached up to 59.0 °C, and ASFV was shown to be inactivated. However, the ASFV genome was still present until the end of the 112-day sampling period. While further studies are needed to explore potential risk factors (and their mitigation), such as destruction of composting piles by scavengers or harsh weather conditions, composting seems to present a valid method to inactivate the ASFV in wild boar carcasses where rendering or other disposal methods are not feasible. In summary, composting provides a new tool in our toolbox of ASF control in wild boar and can be considered for carcass disposal.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/2/285African swine feverAfrican swine fever viruswild boarcarcass disposalcompostingvirus inactivation |
| spellingShingle | Tessa Carrau Alvydas Malakauskas Marius Masiulis Paulius Bušauskas Sigitas Japertas Sandra Blome Paul Deutschmann Virginia Friedrichs Simona Pileviečienė Klaas Dietze Daniel Beltrán-Alcrudo Márk Hóvári Gary A. Flory Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in Wintertime Pathogens African swine fever African swine fever virus wild boar carcass disposal composting virus inactivation |
| title | Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in Wintertime |
| title_full | Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in Wintertime |
| title_fullStr | Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in Wintertime |
| title_full_unstemmed | Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in Wintertime |
| title_short | Composting of Wild Boar Carcasses in Lithuania Leads to Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus in Wintertime |
| title_sort | composting of wild boar carcasses in lithuania leads to inactivation of african swine fever virus in wintertime |
| topic | African swine fever African swine fever virus wild boar carcass disposal composting virus inactivation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/2/285 |
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