Current progress in diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for African swine fever virus

Abstract

African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. Owing to its high mortality rate and rapid spread, it poses a significant threat to the global swine industry. Currently, there is no effective treatment for ASFV, and control strategies rely on early detection and culling of infected animals. Therefore, developing efficient diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for ASFV is crucial to prevent its spread and minimize economic losses associated with outbreaks. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of diagnostic tools for ASFV, including serological, molecular, and cell-based assays. Therapeutic interventions for ASFV are limited, and no approved treatments are currently available. However, recent studies have explored the potential of antiviral drugs and immunomodulators as therapies for ASFV. Vaccines have been developed using different platforms, including live attenuated viruses, subunit vaccines, and viral vectors. Some of these vaccines have shown promising results in inducing both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses; however, their efficacy remains a challenge. Therefore, significant progress has been made in developing diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for ASFV; however, much work remains to be done. Further research is needed to improve the efficacy and safety of current interventions and develop new tools for controlling ASFV globally.