Knowledge, Attitudes, and Biosecurity Practices Regarding African Swine Fever Among Small-Scale Pig Farmers in the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Cambodia - 2026
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Biosecurity Practices Regarding African Swine Fever Among Small-Scale Pig Farmers in the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Cambodia
[en] African swine fever (ASF) is a transboundary viral disease that has heavily impacted Southeast Asia since its introduction in 2019. Smallholder pig production systems in Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (the Lao PDR), characterized by low biosecurity, free-ranging practices, and limited veterinary oversight, remain particularly vulnerable. To assess farmers' awareness and practices regarding ASF, a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey was implemented between March and September 2023 by Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières within the framework of the Biosecurity in Pig Farming (BIG) project. A total of 471 pig farmers, including 56% women, were interviewed across eight provinces using a standardized questionnaire (188 in Cambodia and 283 in the Lao PDR). Results showed that ASF awareness was generally high (92% in Cambodia, 66% in the Lao PDR), yet 15% of Cambodian and 30% of Lao respondents expressed doubts about the presence of ASF in their country. While recognition of ASF symptoms was moderate and positively correlated with farmers' perceived capacity to identify the disease, knowledge of transmission pathways was low and often misaligned with perceptions. Airborne transmission was frequently cited as a risk, and the risks related to visitors and fomites were underestimated by more than 50% of the farmers. Implementation of biosecurity measures (BSM) was limited, with mean scores of 43% in Cambodia and 27% in the Lao PDR. Risky practices such as swill feeding, free-ranging, sharing of boars, traders, and inadequate carcass disposal remained widespread. Statistical analysis identified education level, herd size, knowledge, perceived risks, and perceived benefits of BSM as the main determinants of biosecurity implementation. Farmers with larger herds or stronger commercial orientation demonstrated higher biosecurity adoption, while misconceptions and knowledge gaps remained frequent among smallholder farmers. Strengthening awareness, promoting low-cost and feasible biosecurity practices, and integrating farmer-centred approaches are essential for reducing ASF transmission risks and improving the resilience of smallholder pig production systems in the region.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Renault, Véronique ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Epidémiologie, analyse de risques et biosécurité appliquées aux sciences vétérinaires
Masson, Ariane; Independent Veterinary Practitioner, 49700 Doué La Fontaine, France
Xaphokame, Paeng; Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières, Vientiane 01000, Laos
Phommasack, Outhen; Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières, Vientiane 01000, Laos
Sear, Borin; Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières, Phnom Pen 12000, Cambodia
Ven, Samnang ; Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières, Phnom Pen 12000, Cambodia
Saegerman, Claude ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Epidémiologie, analyse de risques et biosécurité appliquées aux sciences vétérinaires
Language :
English
Title :
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Biosecurity Practices Regarding African Swine Fever Among Small-Scale Pig Farmers in the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Cambodia
Alternative titles :
[fr] Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques de biosécurité vis à vis de la peste porcines africaine parmis les petits éleveurs porcins au Cambodge et au aos
Original title :
[en] Knowledge, Attitudes, and Biosecurity Practices Regarding African Swine Fever Among Small-Scale Pig Farmers in the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Cambodia
Publication date :
2026
Journal title :
Viruses
eISSN :
1999-4915
Publisher :
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), Switzerland
The authors would like to thank the colleagues from Agronomes et V\u00E9t\u00E9rinaires Sans Fronti\u00E8res France who contributed to the development and implementation of the survey, as well as all the national district veterinary services in the Lao PDR and Cambodia who facilitated and contributed to the surveys in the field. The acknowledgment also goes to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for funding the activities and to the project partners: the French National School of Veterinary Services (ENSV-FVI) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD).The Biosecurity in Pig Farming (BIG) project was funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Implementation of this project was done by Agronomes et V\u00E9t\u00E9rinaires Sans Fronti\u00E8res (AVSF) in collaboration with the French National School of Veterinary Services (ENSV-FVI) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD).
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