Stability of African swine fever virus in feed during environmental storage

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes high case fatality in pigs and a trade-limiting disease resulting in significant economic losses to pork production. ASFV is resistant to environmental degradation and maintains infectivity in feed ingredients exposed to transoceanic shipment conditions. As ASFV is transmissible through consumption of contaminated feed, the objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of ASFV Georgia 2007 in three feed matrices (complete feed, soybean meal, ground corncobs) exposed to three environmental storage temperatures (40 degrees F, 68 degrees F, 95 degrees F) for up to 365 days. ASFV DNA was highly stable and detectable by q PC R in almost all feed matrices through the conclusion of each study. Infectious ASFV was most stable in soybean meal, maintaining infectivity for at least 112 days at 40 degrees F, at least 21 days at 68-F and at least 7 days at 95 degrees F. These data help define risk of ASFV introduction and transmission through feed ingredients.