African Swine Fever Virus

African swine fever virus introduction to naive swine population leads to high mortality and losses among susceptible animals. ASF epidemic in Russia (2007–to date) and lately in Eastern Europe highlights severe socio-economic consequences of this disease. The disease epidemiology is rather complex in endemic territories since many factors are involved in virus transmission. The disease control is only based on stamping-out policy and rapid virus diagnostics, since no effective and safe vaccine is available. This chapter focuses on African swine fever epidemiology, immunopathobiology and diagnostics with a brief overview of recent advances of ASF vaccine development.