Abstract:
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly lethal viral disease affecting domestic pigs, while remaining asymptomatic in its
natural reservoir hosts. The disease poses a substantial threat to the swine industry globally, with high mortality rates and
significant economic implications, exacerbated by the lack of an effective vaccine. ASF is caused by the African swine
fever virus (ASFV), a DNA virus with notable resistance to environmental factors, contributing to its persistence and
complex transmission pathways. Transmission occurs both directly, through contact between infected and healthy
animals, and indirectly, via contaminated carcasses, feed, or surfaces. This review highlights key aspects of ASF
epidemiology, including the virus's environmental resilience and its ability to survive in feed and animal products under
certain conditions. Research emphasizes the effectiveness of industrial processing methods such as pelletization,
extrusion, and spray-drying in inactivating ASFV in feed materials. However, potential risks remain from direct
contamination in areas inhabited by wild boars or due to improper waste management.