Pig farms’ typology and African swine fever’s epidemiology in Parakou’s district in North of Benin

Abstract

One most worrying diseases in pig breeding in Benin is the African swine fever (ASF) which made important economic losses. This study aims to make Parakou’s pig farms’s typology and ASF’s epidemiologic’s study. A survey was been done on 10 % Parakou’s pig’s farms number that’s mean 69 farms. For ASF’s epidemiologic study, 41 samples of organs (liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys and heart) and 24 samples of blood serum were carried out. These samples were analyzed by the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Three breeders groups were been identified. The average number of pigs per farms was 15.78 ± 11.15. In group 1, the breeders had provided with schooling and practiced an intensive breeding. In group 2, they were extensive breeders with a little technical knowledge. Finally, group 3 was for semi-intensive breeders who practiced quarantine and who used kitchen residues in pigs’ feeding. The laboratory analyses revealed that 78.05% of the organs subjected to the PCR were positive against 12.5% of serum by the ELISA test. The rates of positivity observed by organ were respectively of 31.21%, 28.12%, 18.75, 12.50% and 9.38% for the liver, the lungs, the spleen, the kidneys and the heart. It was noted that the expression of ASF in the different types of pig farms is under the influence of the mode of pig conduct, the practice or not of the quarantine of animals, heating of feeds containing fatty water and the number of pig herds. The reduction or elimination of the risk factors seems the starting point for an effective fight against this viral disease of swine which decimates the pigs’ farms and impoverishes people.