Semi-quantitative risk assessment of African swine fever virus introduction in pig farms
A semi-quantitative risk assessment was developed to classify pig farms in terms of the probability of introduction of African swine fever virus (ASFV). Following on-farm data collection via a specific checklist, we applied a modified failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) to calculate the risk pri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1017001/full |
| _version_ | 1811176918436806656 |
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| author | Annalisa Scollo Francesco Valentini Giorgio Franceschini Alessia Rusinà Stefania Calò Veronica Cappa Alessandro Bellato Alessandro Mannelli Giovanni Loris Alborali Silvia Bellini |
| author_facet | Annalisa Scollo Francesco Valentini Giorgio Franceschini Alessia Rusinà Stefania Calò Veronica Cappa Alessandro Bellato Alessandro Mannelli Giovanni Loris Alborali Silvia Bellini |
| author_sort | Annalisa Scollo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A semi-quantitative risk assessment was developed to classify pig farms in terms of the probability of introduction of African swine fever virus (ASFV). Following on-farm data collection via a specific checklist, we applied a modified failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) to calculate the risk priority codes (RPC's), indicating increasing risk levels ranging from 1 to 5. The importance of biosecurity measures was attributed by experts. To consider geographic risk factors, we classified pig farms based on local density of farmed pigs, and on the estimated wild boar population density. The combination of RPC's with geographical risk factors resulted into a final ranking of pig farms in terms of the risk of ASFV introduction. Furthermore, the estimation of frequency and levels of non-compliance with biosecurity measures was used to identify weak points in risk prevention at farm level. The outcome of the risk assessment was affected by choices in assigning non-compliance scores and importance to specific components of biosecurity. The method was applied in 60 commercial farms in major pig production areas in Italy. Furthermore, we applied a reduced version of our checklist in 12 non-commercial/small commercial (≤20 pigs) farms in the northern Apennines. In commercial farms, highest RPC's were obtained for biosecurity measures associated with personnel practices and farm buildings/planimetry. Intervention should be addressed to training of personnel on biosecurity and ASF, to avoid contacts with other pig herds, and to improve practices in the entrance into the farm. Sharing trucks with other farms, and loading/unloading of pigs were other weak points. Fencing was classified as insufficient in 70% of the commercial farms. Among these farms, breeding units were characterised by the lowest risk of ASFV introduction (although differences among median ranks were not statistically significant: P-value = 0.07; Kruskal–Wallis test), and increasing herd size was not significantly correlated with a higher risk (Kendall's τ = −0.13; P-value = 0.14). Density of farmed pig was greatest in the main pig production area in northern Italy. Conversely, exposure to wild boars was greatest for non-commercial/small commercial farms on the Apennines, which were also characterised by non-compliance with critical biosecurity measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:00:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d332a84e40a2448090aebaa315fbe177 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:00:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-d332a84e40a2448090aebaa315fbe1772023-01-27T07:29:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-01-011010.3389/fvets.2023.10170011017001Semi-quantitative risk assessment of African swine fever virus introduction in pig farmsAnnalisa Scollo0Francesco Valentini1Giorgio Franceschini2Alessia Rusinà3Stefania Calò4Veronica Cappa5Alessandro Bellato6Alessandro Mannelli7Giovanni Loris Alborali8Silvia Bellini9Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico della Lombardia ed Emilia-Romagna, Sorveglianza Epidemiologica, Brescia, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico della Lombardia ed Emilia-Romagna, Sorveglianza Epidemiologica, Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico della Lombardia ed Emilia-Romagna, Sorveglianza Epidemiologica, Brescia, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico della Lombardia ed Emilia-Romagna, Sorveglianza Epidemiologica, Brescia, ItalyA semi-quantitative risk assessment was developed to classify pig farms in terms of the probability of introduction of African swine fever virus (ASFV). Following on-farm data collection via a specific checklist, we applied a modified failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) to calculate the risk priority codes (RPC's), indicating increasing risk levels ranging from 1 to 5. The importance of biosecurity measures was attributed by experts. To consider geographic risk factors, we classified pig farms based on local density of farmed pigs, and on the estimated wild boar population density. The combination of RPC's with geographical risk factors resulted into a final ranking of pig farms in terms of the risk of ASFV introduction. Furthermore, the estimation of frequency and levels of non-compliance with biosecurity measures was used to identify weak points in risk prevention at farm level. The outcome of the risk assessment was affected by choices in assigning non-compliance scores and importance to specific components of biosecurity. The method was applied in 60 commercial farms in major pig production areas in Italy. Furthermore, we applied a reduced version of our checklist in 12 non-commercial/small commercial (≤20 pigs) farms in the northern Apennines. In commercial farms, highest RPC's were obtained for biosecurity measures associated with personnel practices and farm buildings/planimetry. Intervention should be addressed to training of personnel on biosecurity and ASF, to avoid contacts with other pig herds, and to improve practices in the entrance into the farm. Sharing trucks with other farms, and loading/unloading of pigs were other weak points. Fencing was classified as insufficient in 70% of the commercial farms. Among these farms, breeding units were characterised by the lowest risk of ASFV introduction (although differences among median ranks were not statistically significant: P-value = 0.07; Kruskal–Wallis test), and increasing herd size was not significantly correlated with a higher risk (Kendall's τ = −0.13; P-value = 0.14). Density of farmed pig was greatest in the main pig production area in northern Italy. Conversely, exposure to wild boars was greatest for non-commercial/small commercial farms on the Apennines, which were also characterised by non-compliance with critical biosecurity measures.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1017001/fullAfrican swine feversemi-quantitative risk assessmentbiosecuritypigfailure mode and effect analysis |
| spellingShingle | Annalisa Scollo Francesco Valentini Giorgio Franceschini Alessia Rusinà Stefania Calò Veronica Cappa Alessandro Bellato Alessandro Mannelli Giovanni Loris Alborali Silvia Bellini Semi-quantitative risk assessment of African swine fever virus introduction in pig farms Frontiers in Veterinary Science African swine fever semi-quantitative risk assessment biosecurity pig failure mode and effect analysis |
| title | Semi-quantitative risk assessment of African swine fever virus introduction in pig farms |
| title_full | Semi-quantitative risk assessment of African swine fever virus introduction in pig farms |
| title_fullStr | Semi-quantitative risk assessment of African swine fever virus introduction in pig farms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Semi-quantitative risk assessment of African swine fever virus introduction in pig farms |
| title_short | Semi-quantitative risk assessment of African swine fever virus introduction in pig farms |
| title_sort | semi quantitative risk assessment of african swine fever virus introduction in pig farms |
| topic | African swine fever semi-quantitative risk assessment biosecurity pig failure mode and effect analysis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1017001/full |
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