ASF-STOP Workgroups

 

The ASF-STOP project is divided into a series of working groups:

 

WG	Main topic	Disciplines involved
WG1	ASF virus	Virology, vaccinology, diagnostics, molecular virology, serology
WG2	ASF in wild boar	Ecology, biology, population management, animal behaviour, pathology, immunology, field-applied diagnostics, vaccine delivery (baiting, etc.)
WG3	ASF in domestic pigs-pig industry	Pork production, farm biosecurity, pig health welfare and control, pig industry
WG4	ASF infection dynamics and control	Epidemiology, epid. modelling, surveillance, early detection, preventive medicine, reporting
WG5	Integration of knowledge and communication of results, training.	Communication strategies, training, IT, Social media strategies

 

WG1: ASF Virus

WG1 includes virologists, diagnosticians and vaccinologists with substantial expertise on ASF. They review and integrate the current knowledge developed by various projects within and outside Europe and will produce a report from the workshop on vaccinology that will take place in Pulawy-Poland in December 2016.

WG2: ASF in wild boar

WG2 includes wildlife experts and biologists from various scientific fields, that collect and analyze relevant data from natural and experimental infection of ASF in wild boar and dynamics, structure and control of wild boar population in relation to the pathobiology of the infection.

WG3: ASF in domestic pigs-pig industry

WG3 includes domestic pig scientists and participants representing the pig production sector and pig industry. The main focus is on reviewing and coordinating information regarding best practices for various production systems and harmonizing measures to protect the pig industry from ASF in Europe.

WG4: ASF infection dynamics and control

WG4 includes epidemiologists that will collect and analyze data on hosts, vectors and occurrence of ASF cases combining these with environmental parameters databases using novel statistical tools and Geographical Information Systems. Modelling of the relevant disease data can aid in the discovery of new epidemiological aspects of disease spread. Models of monitoring, early reporting and determining high-risk areas for further disease spread will also be a focus. Measures for optimal control and prevention of ASF will be defined.

WG5: Integration of knowledge and communication of results, training

WG5 includes IT and communication specialists working in close contact with the scientists involved in the network and the MC. They will coordinate the European-wide scientific knowledge and technology exchange platform with input from all WGs. They create and maintain the website, write and distribute the e-newsletters, and produce the proceedings and reports from the workshops on liaison between research and industry and of the research agenda with input from all WGs.