Overview of the perceived risk of transboundary pig diseases in South Africa

Authors

  • Japhta M Mokoele University of Pretoria
  • Leana Janse van Rensburg University of Pretoria
  • Shanie van Lochem University of Pretoria
  • Heinz Bodenstein University of Pretoria
  • Jacolette du Plessis University of Pretoria
  • Chris A.P Carrington University of Pretoria
  • B. Tom Spencer University of Pretoria
  • Folorunso O Fasina University of Pretoria

Abstract

Pig production is one of the most important animal agricultural activities in South Africa, and plays a definite role in providing food security for certain population groups in the country. As with all animal production systems, it is subject to the risk of outbreak of transboundary diseases. In the present overview, evaluations of the perceived risk of selected transboundary animal diseases of pigs, as collated from the willing participants from the provincial veterinary services of South Africa, are presented. A scenario tree revealed that infected but undetected pigs were the greatest perceived threat. The provincial veterinary services, according to participants in the study, face certain difficulties, including the reporting of disease and the flow of disease  information amongst farmers. Perceived strengths in surveillance and disease monitoring include the swiftness of sample despatch to the national testing laboratory, as well as the ease of flow of information between the provincial and national agricultural authorities. The four factors were identified that were perceived to most influence animal health-service delivery: transport, access, livestock policy and resources. African swine fever was perceived to be the most important pig disease in South
Africa. Because the decentralisation of veterinary services in South Africa was identified as a potential weakness, it is  recommended that national and provincial veterinary services need to work together and interdependently to achieve centrally controlled surveillance systems. Regionally-coordinated surveillance activities for certain transboundary diseases were identified as needing priority for the southern African region. It is proposed that an emergency preparedness document be made available and regularly revised according to the potential risks identified on a continuous basis for South Africa.

Author Biographies

  • Japhta M Mokoele, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa and Limpopo Department of
    Agriculture, FCM Building Groblersdal, South Africa

  • Leana Janse van Rensburg, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa and National Department of
    Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa

  • Shanie van Lochem, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa and Preventicare Veterinary
    Consultancy, Pretoria, South Africa

  • Heinz Bodenstein, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa and CS Vet, Menlopark, South Africa

  • Jacolette du Plessis, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa and National Department of
    Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa

  • Chris A.P Carrington, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa

  • B. Tom Spencer, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa

  • Folorunso O Fasina, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa

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Published

2021-12-09

Issue

Section

Original Research