A transdisciplinary approach to combatting the threat of African swine fever in Philippine Endemic Pigs

Abstract

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious viral disease clinically presented with a massive mortality rate in domestic and wild pigs. The Philippines is home to four endemic wild pigs vulnerable to population wipeout due to ASF. However, current ASF programs are directed toward saving the commercial pig industry, with little effort to protect the country's endemic wild pig populations. Here, we suggest a transdisciplinary collaborative action to examine the impact of ASF for data-driven strategies against the spread of ASF and toward the conservation of the endemic wild pig population. To achieve this, projects should anchor on Citizen Science and Conservation Medicine approaches, aiming at determining the distribution of endemic pigs, characterizing the epidemiology of ASF in endemic wild pig populations, and identifying conservation strategies suitable for and tailored to endemic wild pigs at a targeted area. These strategies should further leverage stakeholders' knowledge and expertise in local ecosystems by sharing valuable insights and observations as they take a holistic and community- driven approach, recognizing the intricate relationship between the ecosystem, animals, and humans.