Farms.com Home   News

Ancient Remedies for Modern Woes: Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Fight Against African Swine Fever

African Swine Fever (ASF) poses a grave threat to the swine industry, with the virus causing severe economic and agricultural disruptions since its emergence in China in 2018. The disease, transmitted by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), has become endemic with a high mortality rate nearing 100%.

This urgency calls for innovative approaches to manage and mitigate the impact of ASF on pig farming communities. However, despite extensive efforts, the development of effective vaccines or treatments has been hindered by the virus's complex nature.

Researchers from Huazhong Agricultural University, in collaboration with the Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, have published a comprehensive review in the journal Animal Diseases.

The study delves into the advancements of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the prevention and control of ASF, highlighting the antiviral and immunoregulatory capabilities of herbal compounds.

The review meticulously details the multifaceted approach of TCM in addressing ASF. It underscores the antiviral potential of various herbal extracts, such as berbamine hydrochloride from Berberis amurensis Rupr., which inhibits ASFV proliferation by interfering with early viral infection stages. Luteolin, found in common vegetables such as broccoli, has demonstrated the ability to suppress the virus's replication cycle by modulating key signaling pathways.

The study also highlights the role of TCM in immunomodulation, showcasing how certain herbal formulas can enhance the pigs' immune responses and potentially reduce the severity of ASF. The integration of such traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods presents a robust strategy to combat this devastating disease, illustrating the profound impact of TCM in contemporary .

Dr. Qiang Zhang, a corresponding author and expert in veterinary medicine, states, "TCM offers a  in managing diseases like ASF. Its multi-component, multi-target approach can potentially lead to more effective and safer treatments with less risk of resistance development."

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Cull Or Keep? Sheep Sorting Day

Video: Cull Or Keep? Sheep Sorting Day

To Cull Or Keep? It's decision time at Ewetopia Farms. Today, we tackle one of the toughest parts of sheep farming—deciding which sheep stay as part of our breeding program and which ones will be culled and sent to market.We start by getting another batch of ram lambs ready for shipping, a job that never gets easier no matter how many times we do it. Then, we move on to our older ewes to evaluate whether they’re still fit to produce lambs for another season. These decisions are never made lightly. We carefully consider their age, past lambing records, udder health, and overall condition.