Knowledge, Perception, and Practices Concerning African Swine Fever in Smallholder Pig Value Chain in North Central...

African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating disease of pigs that is endemic in Nigeria. Smallholder farmers have been implicated in driving disease spread, yet little is known about their perceptions about the disease and the role they play in the local epidemiology. Additionally, it remains inadequately documented how other smallholder pig value chain actors perceive and influence ASF spread. This study investigated the perceptions and practices of smallholder pig value chain actors concerning ASF by conducting 62 focus group discussions (FGDs) consisting of 516 participants. Participants included pig farmers and other value chain actors in separate interviews, purposively selected from pig-producing communities with previous laboratory confirmation of ASF. Participatory epidemiology (PE) tools were used to investigate perceptions of clinical signs, transmission routes, occurrence, and control, as well as practices relating to ASF. The most frequently reported clinical signs of ASF were inappetence and red skin/spots. Most frequently mentioned routes of spread were air and farm visits. Most of the other value chain actors, apart from farmers, believed that they had a responsibility for controlling ASF. Seasonal calendars from both participant categories indicated that peak occurrence of outbreaks coincided with the rainy season, when the animals are confined. Practices reported by both categories included sale of sick pigs and improper disposal of dead pigs and slaughter remains, which could facilitate ASF spread. Both participant categories showed limited knowledge of disease control. Our findings provide insights about the local epidemiology of ASF in the smallholder pig value chain in Nigeria, indicating the role of indirect transmission of ASF. The reported temporal patterns and the potential role of butchers and traders in ASF spread further show the importance of investigating the local disease context in different settings to be able to provide relevant advice for mitigation strategies.