Transboundary Emerging and Exotic Animal Disease/ Exotic Animal Disease Practice Exam

What is a common outcome for pigs infected with African swine fever?

1. They typically recover with proper treatment.

2. They may exhibit mild symptoms.

3. They often lead to severe illness and death.

4. They show no clinical signs.

The correct answer is: They often lead to severe illness and death.

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects domestic and wild pigs. The virus is known for causing severe illness upon infection. A central characteristic of ASF is that it leads to high mortality rates, often resulting in death shortly after the onset of symptoms. Infected pigs may initially present with signs such as high fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite, which quickly progress to more severe manifestations and ultimately fatal outcomes. The severity of the disease makes option C the most accurate outcome, as it reflects the virulent nature of the virus and its impact on swine populations. In outbreaks, ASF can spread rapidly, leading to significant economic losses and challenges in disease management, particularly because there are no effective vaccines or treatments currently available for infected animals. In contrast, the other choices describe outcomes that do not align with the known effects of ASF. While some viral infections can result in mild symptoms or recovery with treatment, ASF consistently results in severe illness and is associated with high mortality rates in affected pigs.