THE EPIZOOTIOLOGY, PREVALENCE AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER IN PARTS OF MIDDLE BELT CENTRAL STATES OF NIGERIA

摘要

A survey conducted in six Local Government Areas (LGA) of the Middle Belt central states of Plateau, Benue and Kaduna for serological evidence of African swine fever virus antibodies using the indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) indicated prevalence rates of 17.3%, 34.6% and 50% for the three states, respectively and an overall rate of 34.3%. Of all the LGAs surveyed, Jema'a LGA in Kaduna State had the highest prevalence rate of 54.6% while Mangu LGA in Plateau State had the least at 12%. Other LGAs surveyed had rates ranging between 20% and 40%. Since its initial reported outbreak in Nigeria, African swine fever (ASF) has continued to cause devastation to the national pig herd with negative socio-economic consequences to the farmers hence affecting the expected role of pork as a supplementation of protein to cope with the increasing national demand for animal protein . The areas of study represent region of high pig production in the country. During ASF outbreaks, the pig farmers incur severe economic losses as a result of the mortality caused by the disease. The epizootiology and some of the economic implications of the disease in the region are discussed.