Surveillance and Management Strategies for African Swine Fever (ASF) in Central Luzon, Philippines

African swine fever (ASF) remains a major threat to swine production in Central Luzon, Philippines. This study assessed ASF detection and farm-level risk factors in Central Luzon using a risk-based surveillance framework. Pooled blood samples from five pigs per farm were collected in 277 farms across seven provinces and tested by real-time PCR. The analysis yielded an apparent farm-level prevalence of 26.7% (95% CI: 21.6-32.3), defined by one pooled 5-pig blood sample per farm. However, these values reflect risk-based surveillance outcomes rather than population-representative prevalence. Detection varied by province, with high rates in Bataan (80.5%) and Nueva Ecija (55.0%), moderate detection in Zambales (24.3%), lower detection in Pampanga (5.0%) and Tarlac (20.0%), and no positives in Aurora or Bulacan. Survey data were available for 201 farms. Firth-penalized logistic regression identified the absence of perimeter fencing as the only statistically significant predictor of ASFV detection. Veterinary oversight and consultancy showed protective but non-significant trends. These results highlight structural and professional biosecurity gaps, emphasizing the need for expanded veterinary outreach, fencing support, and training to mitigate ASF risk in smallholder-dominated production systems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Pathogens
Published
2025-10-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14100995
Primary Topic
Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Surveillance and Management Strategies for African Swine Fever (ASF) in Central Luzon, Philippines

Bonto Faburay, Marvin Bryan Segundo Salinas, Errol Jay Y. Balagan, Gemerlyn G. Garcia et al.
Pathogens
Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
article

Surveillance and Management Strategies for African Swine Fever (ASF) in Central Luzon, Philippines

Bonto Faburay, Marvin Bryan Segundo Salinas, Errol Jay Y. Balagan, Gemerlyn G. Garcia, Noraine P. Medina, Virginia Venturina, Alvin P. Soriano, Roderick Salvador, Romeo S. Gundran, Ronalie B. Rafael, Peter Valdez, Corrie C. Brown, María Cruz, Lohreihlieh P. Parayao, Dante M. Fabros
article en

Abstract

African swine fever (ASF) remains a major threat to swine production in Central Luzon, Philippines. This study assessed ASF detection and farm-level risk factors in Central Luzon using a risk-based surveillance framework. Pooled blood samples from five pigs per farm were collected in 277 farms across seven provinces and tested by real-time PCR. The analysis yielded an apparent farm-level prevalence of 26.7% (95% CI: 21.6-32.3), defined by one pooled 5-pig blood sample per farm. However, these values reflect risk-based surveillance outcomes rather than population-representative prevalence. Detection varied by province, with high rates in Bataan (80.5%) and Nueva Ecija (55.0%), moderate detection in Zambales (24.3%), lower detection in Pampanga (5.0%) and Tarlac (20.0%), and no positives in Aurora or Bulacan. Survey data were available for 201 farms. Firth-penalized logistic regression identified the absence of perimeter fencing as the only statistically significant predictor of ASFV detection. Veterinary oversight and consultancy showed protective but non-significant trends. These results highlight structural and professional biosecurity gaps, emphasizing the need for expanded veterinary outreach, fencing support, and training to mitigate ASF risk in smallholder-dominated production systems.

PathogensVol. 14(10)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (US), Central Luzon State University (PH)
Openalex Percentile: Top 64%
Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
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