Kansas State University researches risk posed to U.S. by African swine fever through feed shipments

Kansas State University (KSU) researcher Megan Niederwerder released a study last week of the risks posed to the United States by swine fever smuggled in by way of simulated feed shipments.

It is the first documentation of the survival of African swine fever in feed ingredients. If swine fever was to reach the United States, experts calculate potential losses of more than $16.5 billion could result. There is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease.

Publishing her findings in PLOS ONE, Niederwerder, an assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the KSU College of Veterinary Medicine, studied the entire swine feed transport cycle, from shipment to consumption. The study focused on understanding the virus’s survival in a model that simulated shipment of feed internationally, determining the dose of African swine fever in feed needed to spread infection and identifying ways to mitigate that transmission in feed ingredients.

“This research is extremely important to the swine industry, not only in Kansas and the U.S. but also around the world,” Niederwerder said. “There are many countries, including the U.S., that are currently free of ASFV and it is critical to understand how we prevent this virus from being introduced. Through this research, we seek to understand and further define the risk of ASFV transmission when consumed in feed, a recently identified risk factor for the introduction of swine pathogens.”

The end goal is to determine what tools nations have to reduce the risk of swine fever at all ports of call. The National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, currently under construction near KSU, will build on Niederwerder’s research in further studies. Niederwerder was awarded more than $700,000 from the State of Kansas National Bio and Agro-defense Facility Fund, the National Pork Board and the Swine Health Information Center to support her research.