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compliance, Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Courage Mudyanavana has said.
“This is a bio-security measure used in the prevention of the spread of diseases on the farms.
“Every producer is required to abide by the regulations. The inspection and certificate cost US$200,” said Dr Mudyanavana.
He said farmers could do so by setting dates of inspection with him at their premises.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic pigs and manifests itself as a haemorrhagic fever resulting in up to 100 percent mortality.
The catastrophic effect of this disease on pig production, from household to commercial level, has serious socio-economic consequences.
It is a serious transboundary animal disease with the potential for rapid international spread.
Pigs are usually found dead without premonitory signs. Recumbence, accompanied by high fever, indicated by flushing of the ventral area and extremities in white-skinned pigs, shade seeking, huddling together and rapid shallow breathing may be observed in some animals before death.
Usually, pigs develop a persistent fever of up to 42 degrees Celsius.
They become listless and anorexic, huddle together, seek shade and sometimes water and are reluctant to move. White-skinned pigs become flushed to cyanotic, particularly the ears, lower legs, and ventral abdomen. Mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharges may be evident.
Signs of abdominal pain such as arching of the back, uncomfortable movements and flank kicking may occur. Vomiting is common and pigs may develop either constipation, with hard small faeces covered in blood and mucus, or bloody diarrhoea, with soiling of the tail and perineum.
Ataxia due to hind-limb weakness usually develops.
Difficult breathing, sometimes with froth that may be bloody at the mouth and nostrils, often occurs and is indicative of the lung oedema that is often the primary cause of death. Pigs that survive longer may develop nervous signs, including convulsions.
Pinpoint to larger haemorrhages may be visible on the mucosa and skin.
Abortions may occur at any stage of pregnancy. Duration of clinical signs is generally short – two to seven days – but may be longer and relapse and death may follow apparent recovery.
Pigs that do recover from acute infection are generally asymptomatic. Subacute and chronic forms of ASF were common in Europe and the Caribbean but are rarely seen in Africa, although there are early descriptions of chronic disease in Angola.
Pigs that survive longer, usually after infection with less virulent strains, may have a fluctuant fever and usually lose condition.
An interstitial pneumonia is usually present, which may result in respiratory distress and moist coughing.
Secondary bacterial infection may occur. Joints may be painful and swollen. Death may occur after a variable period of weeks to months, or the pigs may recover or progress to the chronic form of the disease.
Cardiac damage may result in death from acute or congestive heart failure.
Chronically infected pigs are usually severely emaciated and stunted, with a long dull hair coat.
Signs of pneumonia may be present, as well as lameness and ulcers over bony points.
These pigs are subject to secondary bacterial infections. They may survive for several months but recovery is unlikely.