Industry Summary
African swine fever virus (ASFv) continues to be a major concern for swine producers in both the United States and Vietnam due to the lack of effective vaccines and the high risk of transmission. Safe and practical disposal of infected carcasses is critical to prevent further spread of the disease. Research conducted in Vietnam demonstrated that ASFv in infected swine carcasses can be effectively inactivated through composting. The study used a combination of PCR, cell culture, and bioassay methods to confirm virus inactivation. Results showed that while ASFv DNA could still be detected by PCR, the virus itself was no longer infectious after only 16 hours of composting in soft tissues such as the spleen and within 3 days in bone marrow. These findings provide strong evidence that composting can rapidly inactivate ASFv when piles are properly constructed and managed. This means swine producers can rely on composting as a safe, biosecure, and practical method for on-farm carcass disposal following an ASF outbreak. Further studies are needed to confirm the same level of inactivation under different environmental conditions and with different composting materials.
