About the mechanism of formation of enzootic (endemic) zones of African swine fever on the territory of Russia

Abstract

The Russian Federation is suffering from African swine fever since november 2007. The main problem with African swine fever on the territory of the Russian Federation is determined by the formed enzootic zones and partially external cases of the disease on the administrative territories of the "non-enzootic zones". Despite the measures taken, the disease tends to spread annually. For the period 2007-2020, 1840 outbreaks of this disease were registered in Russia, including 1077 domestic pigs and 737 wild boars.
From our opinion, Russia has a unique opportunity in natural conditions to study the stages of the formation of the enzootic zone in the North Caucasus region. This territory is compactly located: the Chechen Republic, the Republic of Ingushetia, the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the Republic of Adygea, where population, with the exception of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, confess the Islamic religion, which prohibits pork consumption.
In this article, based on the analysis of the epizootic situation from 2007-2020. an opinion was expressed on the mechanism of the formation of enzootic zones for African swine fever, as well as on the establishment of zones where the disease appears in order to introduce restrictive and prohibitive measures. The position on the role of wild boars in the formation of enzootic zones and the spread of infection was determined. The understanding of the mechanism of formation of enzootic zones is the basis for the development of effective measures to eradicate African swine fever in Russia.