Keeping African Swine Fever out of the United States

Chris McGann
Communications

Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) took to the internet with a nationwide call to arms against a looming threat to the U.S. pork industry: African Swine Fever (ASF).

There is no cure for African Swine Fever, preventing it from infecting pigs in
the United States requires vigilance and strong biosecurity measures. 

“African Swine Fever has never been detected in the United States. However it is a very real threat,” said Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in a video message. He said the disease is "spreading around the world right now and affects both domestic and feral pigs.”

ASF is a devastating, deadly disease that would have a significant impact on U.S. livestock producers, their communities and the economy if it were found here. There is no treatment or vaccine available for this disease. The only way to stop this disease is to depopulate all affected or exposed swine herds.

Not a health threat to humans

Along with the strong warning, Perdue emphasized that humans are not affected by ASF and it is not a threat to our food supply.

“Within the U.S. we are working with many partners including states, veterinarians, and industry organizations to raise awareness of this deadly disease and how it spreads,” Perdue said.

WSDA’s role

WSDA is joining the effort to raise awareness.

Even though our state is not thought of as a big pork producer, Washington is the home of 3,000 breeding sows on approximately 376 farms, according to NASS.

Interim Washington State Veterinarian Dr. Amber Itle said ASF is highly contagious and it’s incumbent on us to be on the lookout for it, practice effective biosecurity measures, and help prevent the disease from infecting  both commercial and feral swine populations.

“ASF is only a plane ride away,” Itle said. “We are asking for everyone’s help in preventing it from getting here to begin with.”

A global threat

The disease has been a persistent and costly problem for pork producers in other countries. Since 2007, active ASF outbreaks have been reported in multiple countries across Africa, Asia and Europe, in both domestic and wild pigs.

The ease and speed of international travel combined with the potential for this disease to cause animal suffering, economic losses, and food supply interruptions makes ASF a serious concern for both farmers and consumers.

In the video released with the announcement, Secretary Perdue said a U.S. outbreak of ASF could cripple the pork industry.

“We want everyone who comes in contact with pigs, from the large farm owners to the owners of a single teacup pig and even international travelers and petting zoo visitors, to understand how easily this disease can spread and the importance of keeping our U.S. pigs free of this disease," Perdue said.
“The U.S. pork industry supports more than half a million jobs, the majority of those in rural areas,” he said. “We know what’s at stake and we are determined to keep African Swine Fever out of the United States.”

How the virus spreads

• Direct contact with feces, urine, discharges, blood, or tissues from infected pigs
• Carrier swine and their relatives, especially wild boars, warthogs, and feral pigs
• Feeding raw, undercooked or smoked pork products to swine
• Contaminated equipment, footwear, clothing, food, vehicles, and facilities
• Fly, lice, and mosquito bites
• Soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros (a host for the ASF virus)

Signs of ASF

• Sudden death or chronic illness
• Abortion
• High fever
• Weakness
• Depression
• Poor appetite
• Red or blue-tinged skin
• Skin hemorrhages
• Diarrhea or constipation

Treatment and prevention

ASF cannot be treated. Efforts focus on containing the disease to limit the affected outbreak area, euthanizing all pigs on affected farms, and investigating the outbreak to identify the source. Prevention measures include close monitoring of animal health, effective biosecurity measures, animal movement regulation, proper feeding practices, control of wild hogs, and tick-vector control.

If you raise pigs, monitor all animals daily for signs of illness. Call your veterinarian immediately if you see unusual signs of illness such as high fevers, skin discoloration, or sudden death. Report any high mortality or morbidity event to the State Veterinarian’s Office.

Obtain a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for interstate movement of livestock. Quarantine herd additions for 30 days or keep a closed herd.  If you travel internationally, take extreme biosecurity precautions when you return.

For more information about ASF, visit WSDA’s Animal Services Division web page.

What do you think of biological control? Inquiring local scientists want to know!

Karla Salp
WSDA Communications

WSDA entomologist Maggie Freeman releases wasps
to combat invasive lily leaf beetles.

When it comes to fighting pests – whether weeds, diseases, or animals – many tools have been used over the centuries including manual removal, cultural changes, and use of pesticides. One of the lesser-known tools is biological control – or the use of natural enemies to attack pests.

While biological control may seem like a modern phenomenon, according to Wikipedia, biological control has been used for centuries. The first report of the use of an insect species to control an insect pest comes from China around 304 AD. Jiaozhi people sold ants and their nests attached to twigs, which they placed in trees to protect citrus fruits. The ants attacked and killed insect pests of the orange tree.

Despite their longtime use, some people are only familiar with stories of biological control agents in

Parasitic wasps laying eggs on lily leaf beetle larva.

the first half of the 1900’s, some of which were released without adequate research and became pests themselves.

In an effort to understand current attitudes and beliefs about the use of biological control, WSDA is collaborating with Washington State University and the University of Alaska to conduct a survey to learn about public perceptions of classical biological control.

If you have questions about the survey or project, contact WSDA entomologist Chris Looney.

Updated January 14, 2019 to remove survey link after survey closed. 

Pretty pest added to invasive species priority list

Chris McGann
WSDA Communications

An adult spotted lanternfly.
Photo:Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

The adult spotted lanternfly is a sight to behold; its wings are a tapestry of inky spots and delicate stripes underscored with broad patches of bold crimson. Its plump body is reminiscent of a bumble bee or a cicada.

But WSDA’s Plant Protection entomologists see this colorful bug as a big threat to Washington’s tree fruit and grape industry. They are gearing up to try to block the road for this insidious hitchhiker and prevent fast-spreading infestations like those seen in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

WSDA's Pest Program classifies the spotted lanternfly as a “target pest” in multiple pest surveys and earlier this month, the Washington Invasive Species Council added it to the likes of apple maggots, gypsy moths and brown marmorated stink bugs on its top priority species list.

A native of China, the spotted lanternfly first arrived in Pennsylvania in 2014 and quickly proved it is a pest to be reckoned with.

Entomologist Sven-Erik Spichiger spent a decade as Pennsylvania’s state entomologist before joining the WSDA Plant Protection team this year. He knows how bad the infestations can be from experience.

“When you’ve seen tens of thousands of spotted lanternflies on an apple tree during harvest, it will turn your head around,” Spichiger said.

Infestation
Photo:Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

He said from an insect scientist’s perspective, the lantern fly is fascinating.

“But for the public, one bug gets their attention. Imagine how they feel when they come out to their toddler’s swing set and find it coated with more than 200,000.”

The lanternfly spreads plant disease, weakens trees and threatens the country’s multi-billion dollar grape, orchard and logging industries.

And it’s just gross.

The spotted lanternfly lays eggs in non-descript gray globs that are difficult to detect on trees, rusty cans or park benches. It multiplies insidiously by the thousands and can overtake trees, and crops -- even playground equipment – overnight.

A glob of spotted lanternfly eggs
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Then there’s the “honey dew.” That’s entomologist talk for lanternfly urine. Lanternflies feed on sap and excrete sticky droplets of sugar-rich urine that rain down from infested trees so hard in some cases, people need rain coats to work in the area. The shellac of honey dew turns rancid over time and attracts swarms of bees, ants, and wasps. Finally, the coated understory becomes black with “sooty mold.”

In Pennsylvania, the infestation continues to spread, despite more than $20 million poured into research and eradication efforts this year alone. Lanternflies have now invaded Virginia, New Jersey, and Delaware.

These prolific bugs suck sap from hardwood trees, grape vines and fruit trees but its favorite food is the Ailanthus tree or “tree of heaven.”  Spichiger says the tree of heaven - another invasive species - grows in disturbed areas such as vacant lots, highway medians and especially along railroad lines.

WSDA Managing Entomologist
Sven-Erik Spichiger

“Train tracks are lined with these trees,” he said, pointing out that one of the big concerns here in Washington is that this pest is an active hitchhiker.

“All it takes is a stiff wind to knock one of these into a rusty box car and the next week it’s on the West Coast,” Spichiger said. “There is a very high likelihood that this will continue spreading.”

Early stage of spotted lanternfly infestation.
Photo:Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Although there is plenty of reason for concern, Spichiger said there is also hope.

Treatments that combine host removal with pesticide applications have been shown to be effective on small infestations, he said.  And because of its distinctive appearance, engaging the public to help locate infestations can be effective.

"Control strategies work best when entomologists have ability to rapidly respond to the pest," he said. "You can actually control lanternfly infestation using this strategy if you detect them early,” Spichiger said.

For more information about WSDA's Pest Protection Program.

Wanted: Bugs

Karla Salp
Pest Program Outreach Coordinator

Believe it or not, the Department of Agriculture is ready to take live bugs off of your hands…or yard.

Of course, it’s not just any bug that WSDA is looking for. They are in need of live specimens of the Lily Leaf Beetle, will be found for the next few weeks, primarily on lilies.

Gathering these bright red insects is part of a biological control project that WSDA’s pest program hopes to launch this spring. WSDA held public meetings in Bellevue last week to tell community members about the new pest and their plans to respond to the introduction.

The lily leaf beetle consumes both the leaves and blossoms of lilies and fritillaries. It is a threat to both home gardens and commercial lily growers. The bug was first found by an alert gardener in Bellevue and sightings of the beetle have now been confirmed throughout the greater Seattle area.

Unfortunately, eradicating this particular pest is not possible.

The good news, however, is that a biological control has proven effective in other areas where the Lily Leaf Beetle has become established, such as the East Coast. WSDA’s project involves the release of tiny wasps that predate only on the Lily Leaf Beetle; there are no other insects in the Pacific Northwest which the wasp targets.

To improve the likelihood of establishing the wasp in Washington, WSDA needs to ensure there are sufficient Lily Leaf Beetles in areas where the wasps will be released.

WSDA asks gardeners who see the beetle in their yards to report them. WSDA will collect the beetles from gardeners upon request.

You can take pictures of and report Lily Leaf Beetle sightings on WSDA’s website. When reporting your sighting, leave a note in the comments section of the form if you would like WSDA to collect the beetles.