Journal article
Predicted foot and mouth disease virus and African swine fever virus inactivation within carcases undergoing field decomposition in three Australian climate zones
Australian veterinary journal, Vol.103(9), pp.559-570
09/2025
PMID: 40737197
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Abstract
Australia's large populations of feral and extensively farmed livestock pose challenges to implementing response plans in the event of an Emergency Animal Disease outbreak. This study aimed to determine if a "Destroy and Let Lie" approach to carcase disposal (leaving carcases in situ to decompose naturally after field euthanasia) would reliably inactivate Foot and Mouth Disease virus (FMDV) and African Swine Fever virus (ASFV) under Australian conditions. Ninety-five animals (24 each of cattle, sheep, goats and 23 pigs) were used across six trials, conducted in winter and summer, in three locations in Eastern Australia. After euthanasia, temperature and pH were measured at six internal anatomical sites hourly for 24 h, then less frequently for a further 24 h. Data were compared with published FMDV and ASFV inactivation thresholds to assess the likely effectiveness of field decomposition in reducing viral infectivity. Tissue pH levels generally declined for the first 6-12 h postmortem. Based on a pH threshold of <6, FMDV would be reliably inactivated in the thoracic and abdominal cavities and deep and superficial muscle sites. In contrast, no porcine tissues at any location in any season would provide inactivation of ASFV, based on a pH threshold of <3.9. "Destroy and Let Lie" appears to be a suitable approach to reduce risk of FMDV transmission from carcases that cannot be disposed of using conventional means under Australian field conditions. This would not be the case for an ASF outbreak, where expected viral inactivation would be minimal.
Details
- Title
- Predicted foot and mouth disease virus and African swine fever virus inactivation within carcases undergoing field decomposition in three Australian climate zones
- Creators
- Ts Barnes - The University of QueenslandE. Brayley - Queensland Department of Primary Industries (Queensland)T. Moore - The University of QueenslandR. Allavena - The University of QueenslandJ. Meers - The University of QueenslandD. McNab - Queensland Department of Primary Industries (Queensland)R. Thompson - Queensland Department of Primary Industries (Queensland)J. Hunnam - Agriculture VictoriaD. Worsfold - Agriculture VictoriaR. Cobbold - The University of Queensland
- Publication Details
- Australian veterinary journal, Vol.103(9), pp.559-570
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- Funding for this study has been provided by the Queensland state government to support emergency animal disease response preparedness. This research was undertaken via a collaborative research project between the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) African swine fever prevention and preparedness project and The University of Queensland. Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Queensland, as part of the Wiley - The University of Queensland agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.
- Identifiers
- 991013386633902368
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Veterinary Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article