Transboundary risk of African swine fever (ASF): Detection of ASF virus genotype II in pork products carried by international travelers to Indonesia

Background and Aim: African swine fever (ASF), a devastating viral disease in swine caused by ASF virus (ASFV), has led to substantial economic losses, particularly in Asia since 2018. ASFV’s resilience in diverse environments renders the movement of infected pork products a critical risk for disease transmission. This study aimed to identify ASFV contamination in pork products brought by international travelers to Indonesia, highlighting potential pathways for ASF introduction.

Materials and Methods: From 2019 to 2020, pork food products confiscated at three Indonesia international airports (Soekarno-Hatta, Raja Haji Fisabilillah, and Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan) underwent testing. ASFV detection employed TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting the B646L (p72) gene, followed by gene sequencing of B646L (p72) and E183L (p54) for molecular characterization. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted to compare local ASFV strains with global counterparts.

Results: Among 29 confiscated samples, two pork products originating from China tested positive for ASFV. These were identified as genotype II, consistent with strains from Africa, Europe, and Asia. Sequence analyses confirmed the Indonesian strain’ close genetic relationship with global ASFV genotype II isolates, such as those from China, Vietnam, and Georgia.

Conclusion: The presence of ASFV in imported pork products emphasizes the risk posed by international travelers in introducing the virus to ASF-free regions. This underscores the need for stringent border biosecurity measures, surveillance, and public awareness to prevent ASFV outbreaks in Indonesia. Although ASFV does not pose a direct threat to human health, its transmission through swill-feeding practices remains a critical concern for the pig industry.