Motion sensors will help prevent the spread of African swine fever

German scientists have studied the capabilities of accelerometers (motion sensors) for the early diagnosis of African swine fever ( ASF ) in wild boars. The study was conducted as part of a parallel study of a vaccine that prevents ASF infection, according to a report from scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany.

As part of the study, scientists attached micro-sensors monitoring motor activity to 12 wild boars under observation. These boars were infected with ASF during a vaccine study, and scientists found that in the first days after infection, the animals showed a 10-20% decrease in motor activity. The scientists compared the data obtained with the behavior of healthy boars.

As scientists explained, the difficulty in controlling the spread of ASF is that wild boars are tested for ASF only when dead carcasses are found or after game is slaughtered during hunting. Meanwhile, sick boars can move around the region, spreading the virus , including to the domestic pig population. The use of motion sensors can help track the disease in advance and get rid of sick animals, scientists believe.

Now scientists are planning to test the sensors on wild boars living in regions unfavorable for ASF. In the future, algorithms will also be developed for the sensors that will collect data in real time and allow the disease to be detected even more quickly.