African swine fever
African swine fever (APS) is a serious viral disease that affects domestic pigs and wild swine, including warthogs.\n\nIn warthogs, the disease has a particular history: this African animal has been the natural host and reservoir of the vir...
What is it?
African swine fever (APS) is a serious viral disease that affects domestic pigs and wild swine, including warthogs.\n\nIn warthogs, the disease has a particular history: this African animal has been the natural host and reservoir of the virus for a very long time. Unlike domestic pigs, adult warthogs generally carry the virus without developing serious clinical signs.\n\nThe virus circulates in warthogs through a sylvatic cycle (natural, in the wild) also involving a soft tick of the Ornithodoros genus which lives in burrows. This makes the warthog a key link in the maintenance and spread of the virus to pig farms.
Key point
The warthog is not seriously affected, but it plays a major reservoir role for an extremely serious and fatal disease in domestic pigs, of great economic and health importance.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
In adult warthogs, the infection is most often silent: the animal shows almost no visible signs despite the presence of the virus in its body.\n\nYoung warthogs (boars) can sometimes present a temporary fever, a slight depression or a drop in activity, but these signs remain discreet and often go unnoticed in nature.\n\nThis absence of apparent disease can be explained by a long-standing co-evolution between the virus and the species: warthog tolerates infection without suffering the destructive effects observed in domestic pigs.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
The disease is caused by a DNA virus from the Asfarviridae family called African swine fever virus. It is the only known virus of this family.\n\nIn the warthog, the virus is mainly maintained through a cycle with the soft tick of the genus Ornithodoros, which lives in the burrows where the warthogs rest. The tick becomes infected by feeding on a carrier warthog, then transmits the virus to other warthogs in subsequent bites.
Young warthogs not yet immunized are more likely to present clinical signs, even discreet ones.\n\nThe presence of burrows infested with the Ornithodoros tick favors the maintenance of the viral cycle in a warthog population.\n\nContact with pig farms located near areas frequented by warthogs increases the risk of transmission of the virus to domestic pigs, although this does not represent a risk for the warthog itself.
Transmission
The virus is transmitted mainly by the bite of soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros, which live in the burrows of warthogs and ensure a natural transmission cycle called the sylvatic cycle.\n\nDirect transmission between warthogs or to other suids (domestic pigs, wild boars) can also occur through contact with blood, tissues or secretions of an infected animal.\n\nThe virus is not transmitted to humans.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
In warthogs, there is generally no individual care because the animal does not show any apparent illness.\n\nIn the context of research or epidemiological surveillance, a veterinarian or wildlife specialist can confirm the presence of the virus through blood or tissue samples analyzed in the laboratory.\n\nThese analyzes look for either the virus itself or the antibodies produced by the animal in response to the infection.
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment against African swine fever in either warthogs or domestic pigs.\n\nIn warthogs, treatment is generally not necessary since the infection does not cause significant clinical disease in adults.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
There is no vaccine available against African swine fever, whether for warthogs or domestic pigs.\n\nPrevention mainly focuses on managing contact between wildlife and livestock: preventing domestic pigs from coming into contact with warthogs or with ticks present in their burrows.\n\nMonitoring wildlife by veterinary and environmental services allows us to better understand the circulation of the virus and anticipate the risks of its spread. towards the farms.
Possible complications
In the warthog itself, direct complications are rare thanks to the species' natural tolerance to the virus.\n\nThe major complication rather concerns the role of the warthog as a reservoir: it can allow the virus to persist in the environment for a long time and to spread to pig farms, where the disease causes very high mortality.
When to see a veterinarian
Observation of an abnormally killed or weakened warthog in a wildlife surveillance zone\nSuspicion of abnormal mortality in young warthogs\nDetection of Ornithodoros ticks in burrows near a pig farm\nAppearance of cases of African swine fever in domestic pigs near an area frequented by warthogs
Prognosis
The prognosis is excellent in adult warthogs, which normally live with the virus without becoming ill.\n\nIn young people, even in the case of discreet clinical signs, the evolution is generally favorable and without notable after-effects.\n\nThe real issue is not the health of the warthog but the risk represented by its role as a reservoir for the domestic pig industry.
Frequently asked questions
Does warthog get sick from African swine fever?
No, adults generally do not develop visible signs of illness. It carries the virus without suffering from it, unlike the domestic pig.
Why do we talk about the warthog when we talk about this disease?
Because the warthog is a natural reservoir of the virus in Africa. It allows the virus to persist in nature and potentially be transmitted to pig farms.
Is there a vaccine to protect warthogs?
No, there is no vaccine currently available for either warthogs or domestic pigs.
Is a warthog carrying the virus dangerous for humans?
No, African swine fever is not transmissible to humans. It only affects wild pigs and swine.
References
WOAH — Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (ex-OIE)
FAO — Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 14 September 2026
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