6.5.3 Domestic cycle
In this cycle ASFV is transmitted from contaminated pig products to
domestic pigs by the involvement of human activities such as trade and
slaughter (Chenais et al., 2019). The outbreak of ASF in India can be
related to the domestic cycle, where domestic pigs might have attained
the infection by means of potential environmental contamination with
ASFV through virus escape from infected populations of a nearby country.
Maintenance of the domestic cycle endemism in the infected zones and
incursion into a different location within the Indian geographic setting
is possible because, in most rural settings, pig owners are not aware of
the basic biosecurity measures in the farm level. Pigs while on the
incubation period of an infectious disease are often taken to live
animal markets unintentionally or being unaware of disease symptoms.
Moreover, slaughter house waste management system is very poor in India
(dahd.nic.in). Unavailability of organized
slaughter houses in rural and per-urban premises makes effective
management of waste difficult. The contaminated waste generated from
such slaughter houses or pig markets will remain as a source of
infection to susceptible animals in nearby regions.