The new publication describes in detail the dose required for transmission of the disease in the intake of animal with food or liquid. It turned out that the level of virus required for infection in the fluid was extremely low, which demonstrates the infectivity of the African swine fever when administered orally. For infection via the feed required higher concentration and frequency of exposure.

"Although feeds and feed ingredients are less recognized by transferring the ASF, the global distribution makes this a real way to the cross-border penetration of the virus," says Megan Niederberger, associate Professor Kansas state University diagnostic medicine and pathobiology. "Study first demonstrated that the virus can easily be transmitted through natural consumption of contaminated food or liquid".

Methods of agricultural processing feed ingredients can put them at risk of contamination in countries with Achs. For example, a common practice in China - dry their crops on the roads. These roads can be contaminated with movement of trucks containing infected pigs. Treatment ingredients on the contaminated equipment is another possible source of transmission of viral particles in food.

"Millions of kilograms of feed ingredients imported into the USA from countries where currently circulating African swine fever virus," says Niederberger. "Our work showed that the virus survives in a wide range of feed after exposure to environmental conditions, simulating cross-border traffic".

The introduction of the ASF virus can have devastating effects on the production of pigs in the United States in the form of trade restrictions and mass slaughter of animals.