Title: African swine fever in the northern regions of Cameroon: Seroprevalence survey and spatiotemporal analysis of outbreaks from 2010 to 2017

Abstract

The present study was carried out to establish the spatiotemporal distribution of ASF between 2010 and 2017 in the Adamawa, North, and Far North regions of Cameroon. A retrospective study with data relating to the northern regions from epidemiological reports from target organizations in Cameroon was used to analyze outbreaks of ASF from 2010 to 2016. A prospective study consisting of risk factor analysis and serological investigation of anti-ASF antibodies and ASF RT-PCR antigen detection test in pig farms in the study regions with clinical suspicion of ASF was carried out in 2017. During the period 2010 to 2016, a total of 53 ASF outbreaks were reported and confirmed in the three northern regions of Cameroon and involved 4905 pigs (2232 deaths and 2673 slaughtered for sanitary measures). The seroprevalence for the 2017 serology survey was 5.23% (95% CI [3.57–6.89]) at the individual and 10.81% (95% CI [6.34– 15.28]) at herd level. Region, management of farms system, on-farm slaughter by the owner (OR = 4.60; 95% CI [0.34–46.20]; p = 0.014), and selling of animals to community or to butchers (OR = 4.82; 95% CI [0.51–62.15]; p =0.010) had significant effect on individual level seropositivity of ASF. The viral antigen was not detected by PCR. This study showed that ASF cases have decreased significantly in the northern regions of Cameroon following the epizootic 2010 outbreaks. The findings predict a better future for the pork farming in the regions through the enforcement of strategic measures.