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UV exposure is a common method of disinfection and sterilization. In the present study, the parallel beam test was performed to collect fluids containing infectious viruses using a parallel beam apparatus after UV254 irradiation (0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, or 20 mJ/cm2). The air sterilization test was performed by irradiating the air in the ducts with UV254 light (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 mJ/cm2) to collect airborne particles containing viruses through the air sterilization equipment. Furthermore, viral inactivation was assessed based on cytopathic effect (CPE) detection and immunofluorescent assays (IFA). Both the CPE and immunofluorescence signal intensity decreased as the UV254 dose increased. The UV254 doses required to inactivate ASFV (107.75 copies/mL), PRRSV (106.29 copies/mL), and PEDV (107.71 copies/mL) in the water were 3, 1, and 1 mJ/cm2, respectively. The UV254 dose required to inactivate ASFV (104.06 copies/mL), PRRSV (103.06 copies/mL), and PEDV (104.68 copies/mL) in the air was 1 mJ/cm2. This study provides data required for biosecurity prevention and control in swine farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasingly exposed to emerging sanitary risks, extensive livestock farming systems are confronted with the imperative of incorporating biosecurity measures in their production models in order to limit the risk of introduction and diffusion of animal pathogens. Yet, ex-ante assessment methods of the likelihood of biosecurity measures implementation are poorly documented. Our study aimed at comparing alternative methods of elicitation of preferences to assess the attitude of extensive livestock farmers towards biosecurity measures. We used, as a case study, the Regional Porcine Sanitary Plan (RPSP) elaborated for the free-range pig sector of Corsica Island to meet the newly established national disease prevention requirements of France in the face of risk of African Swine Fever introduction. Methods: The RPSP imposed (1) a fencing of the breeding pigs' area, (2) the neutering of the pigs not used for breeding, and (3) a management process of dead pigs' carcasses found on pastures. We evaluated four attributes of the sanitary plan, including (1) proportion of the implementation cost covered by state subsidies, (2) mandatory carcass management, (3) people allowed to neuter gilts, (4) the age limit for neutering. We performed interviews of a sample of free-range pig farmers using three methods in parallel, namely (1) direct qualitative elicitation, (2) attributed-based stated choices and (3) semi-quantitative ranking of attributes. Results: Farmers' preference for a high subsidization of the sanitary plan and for enforcing the neutering of pigs at an early age was consistent across all used methods. Participants expressed heterogeneous preferences for the two other attributes. Half of the respondents were reluctant to entrust veterinarians with neutering gilts while the other half deemed veterinarians' intervention compulsory. Contradictory preferences were obtained on rendering carcass management mandatory depending on the elicitation method. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the added value of using choice-based methods, where respondents weigh the individual costs and benefits associated with different options, in combination with qualitative or semi-quantitative ranking methods in which farmers express their opinions and give more consideration to their community interest. It also reveals potential issues of heterogeneities among farmers' preferences that need to be taken into consideration in similar surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biosecurity measures are essential for mitigating the risk of pathogen introduction and spread in farms. While standardised tools for monitoring biosecurity implementation exist, they are often not tailored to the specific needs of low and middle income countries (LMICs), where pathogen occurrence and farming practices can be highly variable compared to intensive high income country settings. The aim of our study was to develop a flexible risk assessment tool for evaluating biosecurity practices on small and medium-scale poultry farms in LMICs. The methodology described here allows local experts to adapt the tool to current conditions. Results: The development process began by combining two existing questionnaires. These were evaluated by nine experts with expertise in diverse farming systems in LMICs. The experts conducted a knowledge aggregation process to assign weights to the different areas and individual questions within the questionnaires. The median scores from the final expert elicitation informed the weighting of questions in the newly developed questionnaire. These weights are adaptable and can be adjusted to reflect population-specific conditions, which may vary in pathogen load and farming practices. Conclusions: We have developed a flexible biosecurity assessment tool tailored to small-and medium-scaled poultry farms in LMICs. This tool can be used as presented or adapted to local conditions through the input of local experts, allowing for effective and context-specific biosecurity monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In the Italian livestock scenario, the ClassyFarm platform (CFp) has been activated to help farmers, farm veterinarians, and public veterinary services to assess livestock farms' biosecurity and welfare through a risk evaluation. Data for self-monitoring purposes can be added into the platform. This study aimed to analyse the ClassyFarm rating system's application in the Marche Region, Central Italy. Traditionally, this region is characterised by both intensive and traditional/extensive breeding, often with familial management. Seven fattening and eighteen cow–calf line farms (a total of twenty-five farms) were taken into consideration. Utilising checklists of the CFp, these farms were visited and evaluated. All the livestock farms received the lowest rating for biosecurity, in line with the national average, and the highest scores for animal welfare. This project highlighted the peculiarities of the rearing systems in the Marche Region, valorising the usefulness of the CFp in the regional livestock scenario. In Italy, the livestock sector is facing a crucial transformation phase towards a production system able to guarantee a high standard of health and animal welfare. With this aim, the ClassyFarm platform (CFp) has been activated by the Italian Ministry of Health, with a prominent role for farm veterinarians, who are responsible for the livestock farms' evaluation and the entering of data for self-monitoring purposes into the information system. This work aimed to analyse the application of CFp in the biosecurity and animal welfare areas in twenty-five beef cattle farms of the Marche Region, Central Italy, using the checklists provided by the platform itself. The results, expressed in percentages, were compared with the national averages. The percentages of the animal welfare assessment, which were higher than the national average, are likely the result of improved management and a broad understanding of these indicators based on animal observations. At the same time, the biosecurity area, in line with the national average, resulted in much lower percentages, leading to the assessment that some farming areas should definitely be improved. This result reflects the non-intensive and family-run breeding type of breeding typical of this region, characterised by particular attention to animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As effective management of biosecurity risks such as wild dogs, relies on landholder reporting, we investigated how landholders can be encouraged to report wild dog presence or damage. Design/Methodology/Approach: We identified potential drivers and barriers to wild dog reporting and organised these factors using the Behaviour change Wheel (BCW) framework and associated Capability, Opportunity, Motivation (COM) Behavioural model. We then surveyed 186 landholders to determine the importance of these factors, along with other demographic and situational variables, in predicting current reporting of wild dogs and their impacts. Findings: Landholders' willingness to report was found to be influenced primarily by their personal experience of wild dog problems and motivational factors. They were particularly dissuaded from reporting by perceived negative consequences and loss of autonomy. Segmentation using latent profile analysis highlighted that landholders were not a homogenous group, with each identified segment exhibiting their own unique COM barrier profile. Practical Implications: Use of the BCW framework and associated COM behaviour model allowed us to recommend the most appropriate type of interventions to improve the biosecurity reporting behaviour of rural landholders. Theoretical Implications: We contribute to refining the use of psychological theory in the development of agricultural education strategies. Originality/Value: Our study is the first to demonstrate the usefulness of the COM behaviour model and BCW framework to improve rural landholder reporting of biosecurity risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Development of a subunit vaccine (Strangvac) from fusion of recombinant Streptococcus equi proteins offers a new tool in the management of infection with Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. Experience to date indicates that the vaccine is effective in limiting disease spread, and through inclusion of only the desired proteins needed for induction of an effective immune response, the safety profile appears far better than with previous vaccines. Published reports of the use of the vaccine are limited, and to date, vets have had limited information upon which to make informed decisions on the potential benefits of this novel vaccine. This article was developed to share the collective experience of the authors in using Strangvac and to highlight potential benefits of integrating vaccination alongside biosecurity measures in controlling 'strangles'. This article reviews the use of vaccination prior to movement, in the face of outbreaks and also discusses use in mares and foals. Safety and the benefits of differentiating vaccinated from infected animals are also discussed. The reader should consider the level of evidence upon which the recommendations are based as it is frequently weak and limited to anecdotal reports or interpretation of unpublished data. The recommendations made are certain to be revised or replaced as new evidence comes forward but provide a basis for practitioners to implement vaccination strategies based on what is known currently. At times, the authors' recommendations deviate from those that were initially put down in the summary of product characteristics. This comes as a result of clinical experience that has been gained since the initial experimental studies were performed prior to registration. Veterinary surgeons using the vaccine outside of the regimen set down in the summary of product characteristics should be cognisant of their local legal framework and should ensure that they have informed consent to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common enteric viruses affecting commercial broiler flocks include fowl adenovirus (FAdV), chicken parvovirus (ChPV), chicken astrovirus (CAstV), avian reovirus (ARV) and avian rotavirus (AvRV). To investigate their prevalence and to identify single and multiple infections we collected intestinal samples from 49 Austrian broiler flocks during necropsy of dead-on-farm birds twice during a production cycle (7–14 days and 28–35 days). Altogether, up to three consecutive clinically healthy flocks without signs of gastrointestinal disease were sampled from 17 different farms. Samples were analysed using virus isolation and PCR/RT–PCR methods. Virus prevalence was correlated with production data and on-farm biosecurity and management practices. Overall, ARV (75%) was most commonly detected in the flocks, followed by CAstV (61%), ChPV (61%), FAdV (57%) and AvRV (8%). Only in three (6%) flocks were none of the investigated enteric viruses detected. Flock infection profiles were very heterogeneous and included individual detection of the investigated viruses as well as different combinations thereof (up to all five investigated viruses). Even in the absence of clinical diarrhoea and/or macroscopic intestinal lesions, statistical analysis confirmed that the number of viruses detected had a significant economic impact characterised by poor weight gain and increased mortality, particularly due to the presence of FAdV, CAstV and/or ARV. Furthermore, the use of barn-specific clothing and/or footbaths as well as regular vermin control, resulted in lower prevalence of enteric viruses in the flocks studied. This highlights the importance of common biosecurity measures in poultry production to prevent economic losses. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Detection timepoints and patterns indicate horizontal introduction of various enteric viruses. Flock infection profiles were very heterogeneous; no dominating virus profile. Broiler production was negatively affected by the number of enteric viruses detected. Common biosecurity measures had a significant negative effect on virus prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biosecurity measures are crucial to the introduction and spread of pathogens both within and between farms. External biosecurity focuses on preventing pathogens from entering or leaving the farm, while internal biosecurity aims to limit or stop the spread of pathogens within the farm. Implementing biosecurity measures not only protects animals from disease but also has positive effects on productivity, welfare and farm profitability. By reducing the need for antimicrobials, biosecurity measures also contribute to combating antimicrobial resistance. To assess and improve biosecurity, tools like Biocheck.UGent have been developed. In Ireland, the Biocheck.UGent tool has been widely used in pig farms since 2018. The aims of this study were firstly to assess temporal trends on biosecurity scores in Irish pig farms from 2018 to 2023 using the Biocheck.UGent tool and secondly to identify areas for improvement. Results: There was an increase in the number of annual assessments over the study period, with the majority of farms being assessed multiple times. Overall, external biosecurity scores were higher than internal scores. Improvements in the scores were observed over time for most of the subcategories for external and internal biosecurity and across the different farm types. Analysis of the subcategories within the scoring system revealed areas with lower scores, including disease management, cleaning and disinfection, and measures between compartments. Weaner-to-finisher farms tended to have lower scores compared to other farm types. Conclusions: While external biosecurity in Irish pig farms is generally high, there is room for improvement in internal biosecurity. This study highlights the importance of continuous efforts to improve biosecurity. The data obtained will aid in estimating the cost–benefit of implementing biosecurity measures, crucial for decision-making and better returns on investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Information on indirect contacts (e.g. contact with visitors and non-porcine species on farms, shared staff and equipment, contact with trucks) is often poorly recorded even though it constitutes a risk in terms of disease transmission. The aim of the present study was to quantify the number of indirect contacts and associated biosecurity measures in Danish pig herds. A questionnaire survey was conducted among both veterinarians and pig producers in Denmark during 2022–2023. The veterinary questionnaire resulted in 143 answers, representing the Veterinary Health Advisory Service contracts for 53% of non-hobby pig farms. The questionnaire for the pig producers resulted in 373 valid responses and a final response rate of 18%. The results from the veterinary questionnaire provide information on veterinary contacts between pig farms and also estimates on the agreement between registration data and real-life observations. Results: The questionnaire for veterinarians stated that the majority of veterinarians specialized within pig practice would visit > 3 pig farms per day, with pig farms being located with an average distance between the farms of 15 km. The veterinarians presumed wind, movement of pigs and trucks transporting pigs to be the main routes of PRRS infection. The questionnaire for pig producers provides updated data on indirect contacts (e.g. contact with visitors and non-porcine species on farms, sharing of staff and equipment, procedures for purchase/delivery of pigs and contact with trucks) stratified in terms of farm type and production type. Among respondents, 10% of the pig producers shared staff, while 2% shared equipment (washing robots) with other farms, excluding farms in a joint operation. When purchasing gilts, 70% of the participating pig producers introduced gilts in line with recommendations for strict quarantine for a minimum of 42 days. The delivery of the pigs varied, depending on the type of pigs being delivered: finishers were typically delivered for slaughter through delivery facilities into a (usually empty) slaughterhouse truck, while sows for slaughter were typically delivered by means of a delivery truck offsite into a slaughterhouse truck (usually with other pigs on board). Conclusion: Since the inclusion of indirect contacts in disease spread models relies on valid data, the present study provided valuable data regarding the frequencies and biosecurity measures of indirect contacts between Danish pig herds, which may be useful in the parametrization of computational epidemiological models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing nations like Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to poultry diseases, notably Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Adopting biosecurity approaches that assist farms in disease control and prevention can decrease the industry-wide dissemination of infectious diseases. In light of these factors, this study was carried out to investigate the implementation of biosecurity practices on layer farms in Bangladesh. Using a stratified random sample method, a total of 315 layer farms from fourteen upazilas (sub-districts) in seven districts were surveyed using a semi-structured interview schedule. The study explored layer farmers' experiences with biosecurity procedures adopted on farms that included equipment, employees, and visitors. The study found that the overall biosecurity score was 72.5 out of 100. It was concluded that internal biosecurity was better than external biosecurity. The study also revealed that layer farms have a larger proportion of partial adopters based on the adoption index. The application of the Tobit model identifies that education, farming experience, attitude towards risk, price of layer sheds, return from layer production, and access to biosecurity knowledge had a substantial influence on adopting biosecurity measures. The findings might be helpful for farmers and policymakers to ensure the required modifications to improve compliance with biosecurity protocols and could assist relevant authorities in implementing particular biosecurity initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaccination of farmed salmonids has been an integral part of preventing infectious diseases in Norway's aquaculture industry. In Norway, vaccine usage is regulated by the government. There is a need to monitor vaccine usage for both regulatory and research purposes, at local and national scales. The Norwegian Veterinary Prescription Register (VetReg) is a national database that includes all prescriptions of medicines to animals dispensed by pharmacies and all medicines used for food producing animals by veterinarians. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of fish vaccination data reported to VetReg in 2016–2022. We considered the following attributes: completeness, validity, and timeliness. For external validation, we compared the data in VetReg to wholesaler statistics. Results: Pharmacies reported fish vaccines to VetReg in a variety of quantity units, including doses and volumes, which required us to harmonize the data to a single unit. It was not possible to harmonize the quantity units for nine percent of the records, which were mainly bath vaccines reported in doses. We identified specific issues that required manual editing of the units of 1 percent of the records. We validated individual variables such as product codes and location identifiers using external registers. The 'number of animals' variable was inconsistent for 31 percent of the records. The coverage of vaccine data in VetReg ranged from 81 to 113 percent for the ten most sold vaccines in 2020–2022, as compared to wholesales statistics. For the timeliness, we found that 75 percent of the records were submitted within 25 days for all years. Conclusions: Overall, we found that the fish vaccination data in VetReg was of sufficient quality to monitor injectable vaccine usage at hatcheries after 2020. We identified issues at the product level, with bath vaccines, and with single variables (number of animals, weight, and species). We recommend that quality can be improved by reporting all vaccines in volume rather than doses, reporting a single vaccine prescription per report, and including a deadline for pharmacies to report in the legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella spp. and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are significant foodborne zoonotic pathogens that impact the health of livestock, farmers, and the general public. This study aimed to identify biosecurity measures (BSMs) against these pathogens on swine farms in Europe, the United States, and Canada. Overall, 1,529 articles from three scientific databases were screened manually and with the artificial intelligence (AI) tool ASReview. We identified 54 BSMs from 32 articles, primarily focused on Salmonella spp. control. Amongst the extracted BSMs, only five measures for Salmonella spp. control, namely, 'acidification of feed', 'acidification of drinking water', 'rodent control', 'all-in and all-out production', and 'disinfection' had sufficient observations to conduct a meta-analysis. Of these five, acidification and rodent control were found to be protective measures, that is, their summary odds ratios in the corresponding meta-analyses were lower than 1, indicating lower odds of Salmonella spp. presence on farms which implemented these BSM compared to farms which did not implement them (odds ratio [OR] around 0.25). All-in and all-out production showed a non-significant protective effect (OR = 0.71), while disinfection showed a statistically non-significant lack of association between disinfection and the presence of Salmonella spp. on the farm (OR = 1.03). For HEV, no meta-analysis could be performed. According to multiple articles, two BSMs were significantly associated with a lower risk of HEV presence, namely, disinfecting vehicles (OR = 0.30) and quarantining pigs before introducing them on the farm (OR = 0.48). A risk of bias assessment for each included article revealed a high risk in the majority of the articles, mainly due to selection and performance bias. This emphasises the lack of standardised, high-quality study designs and robust empirical evidence linking BSM implementation to pathogen reduction. The limited data available for meta-analysis, coupled with the high risk of bias (RoB) in the literature, highlights the urgent need for more substantial evidence on the effectiveness of BSMs in mitigating the transmission and spread of zoonotic pathogens, such as Salmonella spp. and HEV on pig farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) are vector-borne orbiviruses that pose an emerging threat to livestock, including cattle and sheep. This review summarizes the global distribution, genetic diversity, and key factors driving their spread along with the existing knowledge gaps and recommendations to mitigate their impact. Both viruses cause hemorrhagic disease in susceptible ruminants and are commonly reported in tropical and subtropical regions including North America, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and some parts of Europe. The geographical distribution of these viruses, encompassing 27 BTV and 7 EHDV serotypes, has shifted, particularly with the recent invasion of BTV-3, 4, and 8 and EHDV-8 serotypes in Europe. Several factors contribute to the recent spread of these viruses such as the distribution of virulent strains by the movement of temperature-dependent Culicoides vectors into new areas due to rapid climate change, the reassortment of viral strains during mixed infections, and unrestricted global trade. These diseases cause significant economic impacts including morbidity, mortality, reduced production, high management costs, and the disruption of international trade. Effective prevention and control strategies are paramount and rely on vaccination, vector control using insecticides, and the destruction of breeding sites, husbandry practices including the isolation and quarantine of infected hosts, restriction of animal movement, prompt diagnosis and identification of circulating strains, and effective surveillance and monitoring plans such as the pre-export and post-import screening of semen used for artificial insemination. However, challenges remain with intercontinental virus spread, live vaccines, and the failure of inactivated vaccines to produce protective immunity against dissimilar strains. Significant knowledge gaps highlight the need for a better scientific understanding and a strategic plan to ensure healthy livestock and global food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Public Health Agency of Canada oversees the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations, and monitors human pathogen and toxin incidents in licensed facilities to minimize exposure impact at the individual and population level. Objective: To provide an overview of confirmed laboratory exposure incidents in Canada in 2023. Methods: Confirmed exposure incident reports in 2023 were analyzed using R 4.2.2, Microsoft Excel and SAS. Results: In 2023, 207 incident reports were received, including 63 confirmed exposure incidents that affected 85 individuals. The academic sector accounted for 50.8% (n=32) of the reported confirmed exposure incidents. Microbiology (n=33; 52.4%) was the predominant activity being performed, with the most common occurrence types being sharps-related (n=22; 27.2%) and procedure-related (n=16; 19.8%). Human interaction (n=36; 57.1%) and standard operating procedures (n=24; 38.1%) were the most frequent root causes cited, with corrective actions often directly addressing these causes. Most of the 85 affected individuals were technicians/technologists (n=55; 64.7%) and had a median of 11 years of laboratory experience. Sixty-seven human pathogens and toxins (HPTs) were implicated in the confirmed exposure incidents, with bacteria (n=36; 53.7%) being the most common biological agent type. The median time between the incident and the reporting date was six days. Conclusion: The number of confirmed exposure incidents increased in 2023 compared to 2022. Microbiology was most often the activity being performed at the time of exposure, and occurrence-types, root causes and HPTs implicated in 2023 mirrored those cited in 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: As the world's population continues to expand, it will be important for us to find new ways to ensure that high quality animal protein is available to meet the needs of this growing population. Insects as feed or food for animals and humans, respectively, is one source of animal protein that is underutilized but could help meet this demand, while reducing the impacts on the environment. While there is a great deal of interest in growing insects, or mini-livestock, for feed and food, there has been minimal study into the diseases of these organisms under production conditions. The purpose of this review is to share how veterinarians, the individuals charged with managing and controlling disease in livestock populations for aquaculture, poultry, swine, caprine, and cattle, can serve the same role for insect production. Over the last two decades, the insects-as-food-and-feed industry has rapidly emerged. Its growth is largely because insects require substantially less resources (water, food, and energy) to produce than traditional sources of animal protein, making it a sustainable alternative food option. As this industry continues to grow, veterinarians will likely be called upon to assist in identifying food safety concerns, assessing animal health, implementing biosecurity measures, and formulating/prescribing treatment protocols comparable to what we have seen with the honeybee industry and the institution of veterinary feed directives (VFDs). Similar to other agricultural markets, high animal densities and management practices put insects at high risk for infectious diseases. Veterinarians interested in working with these species will need to become knowledgeable regarding the diseases afflicting the feeder insect industry and how best to diagnose and treat pathogens of concern. Using the edible cricket industry as an example, this review will highlight health and production issues while drawing similarities to other traditional livestock operations. If the insects-as-feed-and-food industry is going to be viable, veterinary involvement will be essential to ensure that insects can be used as a safe source of food for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctica is increasingly vulnerable to invasive species, some of which have already established on the Antarctic Peninsula. The East Antarctic environment is currently recorded to be free from established non-native invertebrates. Here we report the first record of a highly invasive springtail species, Hypogastrura viatica (Collembola: Hypogastruridae), in East Antarctica in 2020. The animals were detected live in the unpacking of imported fresh produce at an Antarctic research station. This is the first record of the transfer of H. viatica to Antarctica via fresh food. Fresh produce is an uncommon pathway for H. viatica, as the species is typically associated with coastal or wet inland environments. Extensive management and surveillance were undertaken following detection, however, taxonomic identification of specimens did not occur until May 2024. We highlight the importance of mandatory reporting and prompt identification of non-native species detections to ensure appropriate responses to future incidents. A lack of species identification may lead to more serious consequences for the environment and ecosystems of East Antarctica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propagule pressure is one of the key drivers of establishment success of non-native species, including insects. However, border interception data, which have the potential to act as a proxy for true arrival rates (i.e., propagule pressure) of insects into a country, are seldom used to predict invasions. This can be due to the limited amount of interception data in some countries, difficulties accessing such data, and when these data are available, difficulties in addressing biases caused by variation in interception probability for different taxa due to policy changes, and operational influences of import inspections. The type of interception data required to reliably estimate arrival rates is rarely available. To improve the use of interception data as a proxy for propagule pressure, we investigated the fraction of established species which had interceptions and vice versa by taxonomic group and by biological characteristics (development type and feeding group), using several national datasets from five continents. We identified higher fractions of established species that were intercepted for plant feeding insect groups compared to fractions of non-plant feeding groups, even in countries with more general import inspection strategies. This is likely to reflect greater search effort for and recording of plant-feeding insect groups during inspections. To address this variation in interception probability and improve establishment predictions based on interception frequency, we developed a methodology to account for such taxonomic variation. We apply this to three hazard lists of insects, containing potential pests for an industry or potential pests for a country, to assess its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iyyappan, T.; Santhakumar, R.; Arul Oli, G.; Padmavathy, P.; Athithan, S., and Arisekar, U., 2025. Enterprise attributes and hazard risks in the ornamental fish trade: Implications for ecosystem integrity and stakeholder engagement in southeast India. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 131–145. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The release of freshwater and marine ornamental pets serves as a significant vector for introducing invasive species and hazards into ecosystems. Preventive measures are essential to reduce the risk of hazards in the ornamental fish trade, but little is known about biosecurity practices after the fish have crossed borders. Hence, the perception of enterprise attributes and the potential biosecurity gaps, and their effects on aquatic ecosystems and stakeholder involvement were evaluated using the survey. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by incorporating questionnaires to collect information on the actual biosecurity activities and hazard responses practiced by ornamental fish retailers and farmers in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The study's key findings on the most dominant non-native species in the market and farming reveal that postborder preventive practices within the ornamental fish supply chain may not effectively minimize the risk of introducing hazards. Also, alarming statistics indicate that 44.17% of unwanted, dead, and sick fishes are disposed of in drainage, ponds, and rivers, further exacerbating environmental concerns. Most frequently, fish diseases are treated with drugs and antibiotics such as malachite green oxalate, trichlorfon, and formalin, as well as oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline, without proper guidelines and consultation with fishery experts. Therefore, it is imperative to allocate resources to enhance pre-and at-border control measures, including risk-based surveillance of ornamental fish imports. Additionally, these findings should inform targeted awareness campaigns and provide directed training on biosecurity practices and environmental education for individuals involved in the postborder stages of the ornamental supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly virulent disease rapidly spreading through Europe with fatal consequences for wild boar and domestic pigs. Understanding pathogen transmission among individuals and populations is crucial for disease control. However, the carcass attractiveness for boars was surprisingly almost unstudied. Here, we evaluated if the wild boar carcasses are perceived as an attractant compared to the control sites throughout the year. For this purpose, 28 wild boar carcasses were placed in seven forest stands and continuously monitored in 2019–2020 by camera traps combined with control locations situated at least 200 m away in comparable habitats. Overall, we have recorded 3,602 wild boar visits, from which 3,017 (83.8%) were recorded in locations with placed carcasses and 585 (16.2%) in control locations. Most visits were recorded after sunset and before sunrise, corresponding to common peaks of wild boar activity. On average, the first visits were detected 4.7 days after carcass placement. Contrarily, it was 61.5 days for the control site. In conclusion, we have proven an enormous wild boar carcass attractiveness for boars, which exhibits an entirely new aspect of wild boar behavior. Therefore, the carcass removal is a crucial measure for controlling the spread of ASF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Horse owners play a critical role in mitigating the risk of pathogen spread between horses. However, little is known about how they view biosecurity and whether they experience barriers to the uptake of preventive measures. Objectives: To explore horse owners' attitudes, perceptions, and experiences of biosecurity and identify how these factors shape horse owners' decisions for biosecurity implementation. Study design: Qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 23 horse owners across Great Britain. Participants were purposively selected to include those in different geographic regions, with different management arrangements, and varied length of horse ownership experience. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a critical realist thematic analysis. Results: Participants felt a moral obligation to prioritise their horse's happiness, which became a challenge when certain biosecurity measures (e.g., quarantine) were perceived as compromising their horse's happiness or comfort (Theme 1). A lack of biosecurity was the social norm among shared yards and competition venues (Theme 2), which made it difficult for participants to implement biosecurity measures effectively on their own. Combined with the sense of moral obligation participants felt towards their horse, this meant that participants had to 'care double' (i.e., be more vigilant than they would otherwise) to compensate for collective inaction (Theme 3). Main limitations: Participants may have been more interested in and/or knowledgeable about biosecurity than the general horse owning population. Conclusions: The findings highlight several challenges that could be addressed to improve biosecurity implementation among horse owners. Efforts to encourage improved uptake of biosecurity measures should focus on communicating how reducing the risk of disease aligns with horse care. Further research on social norms in the horse industry is needed, in addition to identifying strategies to encourage a collective adoption of biosecurity measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over a century African swine fever (ASF) has been causing outbreaks leading to devastating losses for the swine industry. The current pandemic of ASF has shown no signs of stopping and continues to spread causing outbreaks in additional countries. Currently control relies mostly on culling infected farms, and strict biosecurity procedures. Recently a vaccine, ASFV-G-ΔI177L was approved for use in Vietnam. In this study we evaluate the long-term stability of lyophilized ASFV-G-ΔI177L. Understanding the stability of different formulations of vaccines is information necessary for deployment of vaccines to ASF outbreak areas, particularly those that do not have a reliable well established cold chain to ensure conservation of vaccine quality. In this report, we determined that ASFV-G-ΔI177L, when lyophilized under specific conditions, is stable for up to one year at 4 °C, with similar vaccine titers after storage. Next-generation sequencing analysis also determined that lyophilization and long-term storage under these conditions had no effect on the genome of ASFV as the genome remained genetically identical to the original non-lyophilized form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk assessments are important tools to identify deficits in biosecurity management practices. A major strength of some existing tools is that they facilitate cross-country comparisons. However, a weakness is their failure to account for unique intra-national farming enterprise structures such as, for example, pasture-based dairying. Currently, there are no suitable biosecurity risk assessment tools applicable to pasture-based dairying as practiced in Ireland. In addition to a need for enterprise-specific biosecurity risk assessment tools, the weighting of risk scores generated by these tools needs to be context-specific to ensure validity in assessing biosecurity risks in the farming sector of interest. Furthermore, existing biosecurity audits rely exclusively on respondent recall to answer questions about management practices. To address each of these limitations of existing biosecurity risk assessment tools we developed and optimised a new biosecurity risk assessment tool (BioscoreDairy) designed to assess the biosecurity status of pasture-based dairy farms in Ireland. It consists of two parts, a biosecurity questionnaire and a cattle movement records audit. A questionnaire was developed on biosecurity management practices appropriate for a pasture-based dairy system. Multiple national expert groups were leveraged to provide weightings for the different management practices in the questionnaire using the best-worst scaling methodology of MaxDiff. The results of this process provided a numerical categorisation that could then be used to assign scores to the individual biosecurity management practices. These practices were grouped into three biosecurity areas; risk of disease entry, speed of disease spread and diagnosis of infection. Within each of these three areas, a traffic light system was used to compare a farm's biosecurity risks to other similar farms—least risk (green; within the top third of farms), concerning practice (amber; middle third) and worst practice or greatest risk (red; lowest third). In addition to these scores, the cattle introduction profile of a herd over the previous 3 years, based on nationally recorded data, was audited, compared amongst dairy farm enterprise subtypes, and included in the BioscoreDairy report. BioscoreDairy is therefore the first biosecurity risk assessment tool tailored to pasture-based dairy farm systems, both for individual farm reporting and for benchmarking against comparable farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern biotechnology necessitates robust biosecurity protocols to address the risk of engineered biological threats. Current efforts focus on screening DNA and rejecting the synthesis of dangerous elements but face technical and logistical barriers. Screening should integrate into a broader strategy that addresses threats at multiple stages of development and deployment. The success of this approach hinges upon reliable detection, characterization, and attribution of engineered DNA. Recent advances notably aid the potential to both develop threats and analyze them. However, further work is needed to translate developments into biosecurity applications. This work reviews cutting-edge methods for DNA analysis and recommends avenues to improve biosecurity in an adaptable manner. Modern biotechnology necessitates robust biosecurity protocols to address the risk of engineered biological threats. In this Perspective, the authors review cutting-edge methods for DNA analysis and recommend avenues to improve biosecurity in an adaptable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosecurity plans are crucial for preventing economic and environmental impacts caused by disease outbreaks in aquaculture. These plans focus on prevention, early detection, and effective control measures. With the global threat of emerging infectious diseases and the need for sustainable production practices, the importance of biosecurity continues to grow. Scientometric analysis is a valuable tool for assessing the impact and influence of scientific research within a particular field or discipline. Scientometric analysis of aquaculture biosecurity publications reveals significant activity in the field, with the highest number of publications recorded in 2021. Cottier-Cook EJ emerged as the most prolific author, while USA and the Centre for Environment Fisheries Aquaculture Science were identified as leading contributors. Physical biosecurity measures prevent the entry of pathogens and wild fish into aquaculture systems. Biological biosecurity measures enhance immunity and reduce disease risks. Operational biosecurity measures, such as feed management and hygiene protocols, maintain animal health. Innovative technologies such as sensors and artificial intelligence improve biosecurity efficiency. Effective management of disease outbreaks requires coordination, risk assessment, and established response plans. Aquaculture biosecurity offers benefits such as disease prevention, environmental protection, and food safety, but may have disadvantages including costs and negative environmental impacts. The industry should focus on implementing effective and sustainable biosecurity measures, improving disease prevention, reducing environmental impact, and ensuring product safety and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Salmonella poses a significant threat to poultry farming, as it can asymptomatically infect flocks, ultimately leading to foodborne illnesses when contaminated poultry products reach consumers. This review focuses on various strategies for controlling Salmonella colonization in commercial layer chickens at the pre-harvest level. The approaches discussed include enhancing farm biosecurity, using vaccines, incorporating feed additives, and improving genetic resistance to infection through selective breeding. Each of these approaches offers unique benefits, such as preventing the introduction of pathogens, enhancing immunity against Salmonella, and/or improving intestinal health to reduce Salmonella colonization. Therefore, a combined approach is essential for minimizing the risk of Salmonella, promoting food safety, and supporting sustainable poultry production. Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infections in poultry, particularly in commercial-layer chickens, pose a critical risk to food safety and public health worldwide. NTS bacteria can remain undetected in poultry flocks, contaminating products and potentially leading to gastroenteritis in humans. This review examines pre-harvest control strategies for NTS in layer chickens, including biosecurity protocols, vaccinations, feed additives, genetic selection, and environmental management. These strategies have substantially reduced Salmonella colonization and product contamination rates in the commercial layer industry. By evaluating these strategies, this review highlights the importance of integrated control measures to limit NTS colonization, reduce antimicrobial resistance, and improve poultry health. This review aims to provide producers, researchers, and policymakers with insights into effective practices to minimize Salmonella contamination and enhance both animal and human health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bee colonies are constantly threatened by a bacterial larvae disease called American foulbrood, caused by the Gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. This is a highly specialized pathogen with only one established host, the honey bee larvae. The current state of legislation throughout the European Union prevents the inclusion of pharmacotherapy treatment, and the only control is based on the physical elimination of infected colonies upon veterinary orders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of selected bacteria with proven probiotic potential with typical characteristics meeting the definition of a probiotic that could reduce the American foulbrood pressure by promoting the development of the larvae microbiome that competes with and blocks the excessive proliferation and production of P. larvae endospores. The antimicrobial activity of inoculants of the following selected strains was studied: Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Streptomyces narbonensis, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Levilactobacillus brevis, Bacillus megaterium against Paenibacillus larvae ATCC 9545 (formerly Paenibacillus larvae sub sp. larvae), and Paenibacillus larvae CCUG 48973. Analyses were performed by the well diffusion method according to EUCAST standards (clinical breakpoints and dosing of antibiotics) with modifications due to the specificity of the bacteria used. The largest zone of growth inhibition of P. larvae was confirmed with S. narbonensis, B. licheniformis, and B. megaterium, and medium activity was observed with L. brevis and B. pumilus. Negligible activity was shown by L. fusiformis. Differences were noticed in the resistance of indicator strains of P. larvae and between the media and carriers used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movements of plant pathogenic microorganisms in uncontaminated areas occur today at an alarming rate, driven mainly by global trade and climate change. These invaders can trigger new disease outbreaks able to impact the biodiversity and economies of vast territories and affect a variety of ecosystem services. National and supranational regulatory deficiencies, such as inadequate quarantine measures and ineffective early pathogen detection at ports of entry, exacerbate the issue. Thus, there is an urgent need for accurate and rapid diagnostic tools to intercept invasive and nonindigenous plant pathogens. The LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal AMPlification) technique is a robust, flexible tool representing a significant advance in point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. Its user-friendliness and sensitivity offer a breakthrough in phytosanitary checks at points of entry (harbors and airports), for disease and pest surveillance at vulnerable sites (e.g., nurseries and wood-processing and storage facilities), and for territorial monitoring of new disease outbreaks. This review highlights the strengths and weaknesses of LAMP, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize modern plant disease diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canary Island date palm, Phoenix canariensis, is a popular ornamental species commonly planted in urban areas worldwide, including South Africa. In November 2023, symptoms typical of Fusarium wilt were detected on ornamental palms at the Waterfront in Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Samples were collected from three wilting palms with one‐sided frond death and pink sporulation on the bark. Isolations to culture media yielded two fungal species, which were confirmed based on DNA sequence data as Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. canariensis (Foc) and Nalanthamala vermoesenii. Fusarium wilt, caused by Foc, is among the most serious diseases of these palms. There is no effective treatment for this vascular wilt disease and infected palms inevitably die. Pink rot, caused by N. vermoesenii, is commonly found as a secondary infection associated with Fusarium wilt in P. canariensis. This is the first detection of the Fusarium wilt and pink rot pathogens in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The battle against invasive alien species (IAS) rages on, and is being driven by recently articulated global biodiversity agendas. While the current United Nations Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) seeks to ensure pristine, protected areas comprise 30 percent of the world's total surface area by 2030, there remains much to be done for the remaining 70 percent, areas dominated by human habitat and industrial activities. Many non-native species have partly or wholly naturalized in these mixed ecosystems, becoming entangled in people's livelihoods. We therefore argue that initiatives to not only aggressively eradicate such IAS but also to enroll the help of citizens in doing so will likely meet with resistance. Biodiversity dilemmas may arise where the cure may be worse than the disease; animal welfare standards may have to be sacrificed; and socioeconomic utility may have to be set aside. We therefore advocate the need for an alternative perspective on biodiversity justice and the proper place of IAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoonotic spillover events pose a significant and growing threat to global health. By focusing on preventing these cross-species transmissions, we can significantly mitigate pandemic risks. This review aims to analyze the mechanisms of zoonotic spillover events, identify key risk factors, and propose evidence-based prevention strategies to reduce future pandemic threats. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of major databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from 1960–2024, we examined documented spillover events, their outcomes, and intervention strategies. This article emphasizes that targeting the root cause—the spillover event itself—is key to averting future pandemics. By analyzing historical and contemporary outbreaks, we extract crucial insights into the dynamics of zoonotic transmission. Factors underlying these events include increased human–animal contact due to habitat encroachment, agricultural intensification, and wildlife trade. Climate change, global travel, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure exacerbate risks. The diversity of potential viral reservoirs and rapid viral evolution present major challenges for prediction and prevention. Solutions include enhancing surveillance of wildlife populations, improving biosecurity measures, investing in diagnostic capabilities, and promoting sustainable wildlife management. A "One Health" approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health is crucial. Predictive modelling, international cooperation, and public education are key strategies. Developing pre-exposure prophylactics and post-exposure treatments is essential for mitigating outbreaks. While obstacles remain, advances in genomics and ecological modelling offer hope. A proactive, comprehensive approach addressing the root causes of spillover events is vital for safeguarding global health against future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The literature indicates that the wading gear of recreational anglers is the main vector of transport of the aquatic invasive species, New Zealand mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum within and between rivers. We surveyed 308 anglers fishing the Pere Marquette River, Michigan, USA in 2016-2017. Of these anglers, 44% reported that they cleaned their waders between fishing trips. Even though 52% of anglers were aware of NZMS, there was not a significant difference in wader cleaning behaviors between anglers aware or unaware of NZMS, indicating that outreach efforts need to focus beyond the awareness stage. We provide a flowchart to help guide outreach efforts given the different stages of angler awareness and knowledge, as well as their propensity to engage in wader cleaning. As no in-stream method of treatment is presently available, angler social behavioral change should be a focus of future management efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realising behavioural change in long invested environmental practices is often difficult to achieve, especially when scientific understanding of the issues is still unfolding. Having confidence in one’s action requires knowledge that actions will be effective in improving environmental outcomes. Currently, we know little about the role of social trust in mediating complex and uncertain knowledge of environmental problems and the required actions needed to address them. In this quantitative study, we surveyed 472 users of endangered kauri forests in New Zealand to better explore the role of trust in relation to pro-environmental behaviours (PEB) designed to mitigate effects of the devastating plant disease, kauri dieback. Findings show uncertainty about the scientific knowledge of the issue, recommended actions and efficacy of proposed solutions significantly influenced PEB for both residents and visitors of forests; however, this relationship was partially mediated by trust, particularly among locals residing within 5 km of infected forest areas. These findings indicate the need for closer engagement with local residents to develop institutional and scientific trust in kauri dieback interventions. We outline activities that may help build trust and recommend new areas of research to support higher compliance with environmental protection initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase‐producing Escherichia coli (ESBL‐EC) are widespread multidrug‐resistant zoonotic bacteria that threaten animal production, food safety and antimicrobial therapy worldwide including Malaysia. Poultry has been reported as one of the pathways for human exposure to ESBL‐EC. There has been little research on the occurrence of ESBL‐EC within the Malaysian poultry food chain. Hence, the objectives of the study were to determine the occurrence of ESBL‐EC in chickens and to identify the potential risk factors associated with their occurrence in poultry farms. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted on 400 samples, consisting of 240 cloacal swabs from chickens and 160 from poultry farms environments in eight districts in Selangor, Malaysia using culture and disk combination methods and multiple polymerase chain reaction assays. In the determination of possible factors associated with the presence of ESBL‐EC at poultry farms, a questionnaire was used to obtain the information and data. Results: The findings demonstrated the wide distribution of ESBL‐EC in all the farms with an overall occurrence of 37.2%. Farms in Gombak, Klang and Hulu Selangor had the highest occurrence rates at 62%, 50% and 50%, respectively, followed by farms in Petaling 38%, Sepang at 34%, Kuala Langat at 26% and Kuala Selangor at 24%, and the lowest was in Hulu Langat 14%. Among the study samples, chickens had the highest occurrence rate at 45.4%, followed by chicken house floors at 40% and flies at 30%, while feed and water samples at 17.5% and 12.5%, respectively. The present study indicated the high occurrence and wide dissemination of ESBL‐EC in chickens and poultry farms environment. The ESBL‐EC occurrence was associated with several factors including imprudent use of antibiotics, poor husbandry, management and biosecurity practices at the farms. Conclusions: Our study showed the presence and spread of ESBL EC among chickens in the farms and their environment; this may lead to being spread to outside of farm environment by flies, vermins, flying birds, litter and farm wastes and possibly to humans upon contact with the contaminated environment and by poultry meat. Thus, the findings of the study can assist to serve as a piece of useful information to veterinary authority in designing evidence‐based mitigation strategies for the control of ESBL‐EC in poultry farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In summary, this report emphasizes the importance of accurate virus characterization using whole-genome sequencing and robust biosecurity practices and training for avian influenza surveillance. Risks must be mitigated to provide accurate disease reporting and limit disease spread, considering this case's avian influenza detection in submitted poultry samples but its attribution to the collector. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) surveillance for influenza A virus (IAV) in the United States is conducted using a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Samples showing the presence of IAV are confirmed and characterized at the national reference laboratory. During the H5N1 HPAI outbreak in 2022, our laboratory reported the detection of IAV in a PA commercial chicken flock using rRT-PCR targeting the matrix gene, which was negative for the H5/H7 subtypes. IAV was not detected by additional sampling of the birds the following day with rRT-PCR. The virus detected was characterized as a human seasonal H3N2 with whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Further investigation revealed that the collector who visited the farm was diagnosed with an IAV infection. This case report emphasizes the importance of farm biosafety and biosecurity, of conducting regular reviews of worker safety protocols, and of advanced molecular techniques like WGS for viral characterization and epidemiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidemic of avian influenza outbreaks, especially high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), which causes respiratory disease and death, is a disaster in poultry. The outbreak of HPAI in 2014–2015 caused the loss of 60 million chickens and turkeys. The most recent HPAI outbreak, ongoing since 2021, has led to the loss of over 50 million chickens so far in the US and Canada. Farm biosecurity management practices have been used to prevent the spread of the virus. However, existing practices related to controlling the transmission of the virus through wild birds, especially waterfowl, are limited. For instance, ducks were considered hosts of avian influenza viruses in many past outbreaks. The objectives of this study were to develop a machine vision framework for tracking wild birds and test the performance of deep learning models in the detection of wild birds on poultry farms. A deep learning framework based on computer vision was designed and applied to the monitoring of wild birds. A night vision camera was used to collect data on wild bird near poultry farms. In the data, there were two main wild birds: the gadwall and brown thrasher. More than 6000 pictures were extracted through random video selection and applied in the training and testing processes. An overall precision of 0.95 (mAP@0.5) was reached by the model. The model is capable of automatic and real-time detection of wild birds. Missed detection mainly came from occlusion because the wild birds tended to hide in grass. Future research could be focused on applying the model to alert to the risk of wild birds and combining it with unmanned aerial vehicles to drive out detected wild birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid advances in technology and life science, biological security is now at a defining moment. The mandate of the 2022 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention 9th Review Conference emphasised the urgent need for new tools to strengthen the Convention. In this paper, we review the development and efforts of the International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN) to provide examples of best practice for implementation of the newly founded International Biological Security Education Network (IBSEN). Learning from the lessons of the INSEN, the sustainability of the network through continuous engagement of its members is essential for the further development of global biosecurity education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Biosecurity is a crucial issue in a globalised world as today. Biosecurity has become a serious concern for some countries to prevent the transfer of any infectious diseases across borders. Involving human bio-surveillance, biosecurity regulation is actually an attempt to build new spatial demarcations in the border areas of countries. In the context of Indonesia, the biosecurity policy so far has been initiated and applied for protecting Indonesian borders from infectious disease transferred from the mobility of people, including Indonesian migrant workers when they returned back to this country. However, some important issues and controversies remain in debate, especially around the political economy discourses of the Indonesian government. This research, thus, focuses on the risk of disease transmission among the Indonesian migrant workers, which could affected not only Indonesia, but also others particular countries and global people's health. This study examines the case of biosecurity issue in the border Island of Indonesia, which is Tanjung Pinang situated in Riau Islands. Tanjung Pinang is an offshore bordered area bordering to Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. This place is part of a major maritime traffics lane between its neighbouring countries. Tanjung Pinang is also one of departure harbours for the Indonesian migrant workers to Malaysia and Singapore. Upon interviewing with migrant workers, the government representatives, and the NGOs/agents who have involved with migrant workers' travels, this research found that biosecurity policy of the Indonesian government has not been implemented consistently and firm to the standard of health protocols; whilst, the prevention of infectious desease carried from migrant workers overseas who returned home could be spread out and brought health risks for domestic communities. The health authority in border area, i.e. Tanjung Pinang, has provided screening rooms; yet, the screenings were implemented for some random workers and on the workers' physical body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to examine the co-productions of security and emerging technologies in the two contexts of forensic genetics and forensic facial identification. These surfacing co-productions, deemed here as 'forensic biosecurity', are evolving rapidly in both theoretical and practical terms. Definitions and conceptualisations of security are contingent and multiple, impacting forensic biological techniques and innovations in both predictable and unpredictable ways. The military, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, immigration, customs, border patrol, mass disasters, cold case reviews, health, defence, private security, and biometric applications are just a few of the many security environments where forensic biological techniques are applied. The continual development of variations in forensic genetics and facial identification renders a futher blurring of traditional evidence with that of intelligence. Drawing in particular from Joly's (in: S. Hilgartner, C. Miller, and R. Hagendijk (eds) Science and democracy: Making knowledge and making power in the biosciences and beyond, Taylor and Francis, London, 2015) work on emerging technologies, forensic biosecurity is analysed from a science and technology studies (STS) perspective. An emerging technology in the initial stages is thought to be highly flexible with the potential impacts on society and criminal justice being possibly difficult to predict. Once the science and/or technology has become entrenched and mainstream, it may be difficult to change. The enthusiasm portrayed by law enforcement and security agencies regarding emerging technologies, shows that it is important to remain somewhat cautious about the proliferation of these techniques. While such science and technologies appear to be effective and innovative in the present, it is difficult to accurately forecast or predict the future consequences of such innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosecurity research focuses on invasive species. The dissemination of biosecurity research is hampered by three major issues. First, biosecurity research is not always published and can be difficult to access. Second, biosecurity participants ask questions in different ways, with terminology varying between participants and the research literature. Third, it is difficult to identify overlaps and gaps in the research literature, partly due to access and translation issues. The Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA) is addressing these problems by developing The Biosecurity Risk Research Portal (Portal). In this paper, we discuss a system that extracts and transforms open-access grey literature research to meet domain-specific information needs. We discuss new controlled vocabularies that support metadata extraction. We show how controlled vocabularies and repository services may be co-developed, ensuring practitioner information needs are met responsively. The Portal connects metadata sources including government, industry and research institutions where open access to full text is available. We describe functional modules, including metadata extraction, metadata harmonisation, tagging and transformation of metadata into graph-shaped data ready for analytic applications. We introduce controlled vocabularies, including the Biosecurity Thesaurus. We discuss the inputs to new vocabularies such as corpus analysis, survey data and biosecurity frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The assessment of farmers' basic and practical knowledge regarding major health risks, such as poultry salmonellosis and mycotoxins, alongside the biosecurity status of farms, is crucial for effectively preventing and controlling poultry diseases in Ethiopia, where poultry production plays a vital role in community livelihoods. This research, conducted from March 2022 to June 2023, aimed to evaluate poultry farmers' basic and practical knowledge concerning salmonellosis and mycotoxins and assess the biosecurity status of small- and medium-scale poultry farms in Jimma, Ethiopia. The study revealed a low overall level of basic knowledge and poor practical knowledge among poultry farmers of managing and handling feed to reduce mycotoxin contamination and prevent Salmonella spp. infections. Furthermore, biosecurity scores were significantly below global averages, with most external biosecurity parameters and all internal measures failing to meet international standards. The findings highlighted weak biosecurity measures, inadequate awareness, and suboptimal practices among poultry farmers in Jimma. Identifying these gaps in basic and practical knowledge as well as biosecurity measures will be critical in designing and implementing effective mitigation strategies for infectious diseases in poultry farms. These results underscore the need for active engagement from all stakeholders in poultry production to boost the sector's productivity in Ethiopia. Poultry farming in Ethiopia is crucial for food security and income, but it faces significant challenges due to gaps in farmer awareness. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Biocheck.UGent™ biosecurity scoring system and a questionnaire to evaluate poultry farmers' basic and practical knowledge concerning salmonellosis and mycotoxins. The questionnaire revealed substantial gaps in basic and practical knowledge regarding Salmonella spp infections and mycotoxin among 38 poultry farmers in Jimma. About 68.4% of farmers were unaware of the impact of salmonellosis on both poultry and human health. Moreover, 78.9% had limited basic knowledge of how salmonellosis affects production and the economy. Farmers also showed limited practical knowledge of farm management and hygiene practices essential for preventing Salmonella spp. infections. Regarding mycotoxins, 63.2% of farmers lacked awareness of poultry feed management, 60.5% were unaware of the health risks mycotoxins pose, and 73.7% did not recognize signs of mycotoxin contamination. Although 55.3% of farmers demonstrated acceptable practical knowledge of strategies to reduce the impact of mycotoxin contaminations, there are still concerns, particularly since 65.8% and 55.3% only showed moderate practical knowledge of feed storage and mycotoxin prevention, respectively. The overall biosecurity scores of poultry farms were below the global average, with a score of 41.7 compared to the worldwide average of 64. The overall mean score for external biosecurity was 44.9, below the global average of 63. All 3 scoring platforms and biosecurity parameters indicated that internal biosecurity was the weakest aspect, with a score of 31.6, well below the global standard of 64. The results showed a weak correlation (rₛ = 0.06) between farmers' basic and practical knowledge scores about Salmonella spp. infections and mycotoxins. Similarly, there was a weak correlation between the poor biosecurity score of poultry farms and the basic and practical knowledge of poultry farmers on Salmonella spp. infections (rₛ = 0.17) and mycotoxins (rₛ = 0.25). In conclusion, the study found that poultry farmers in Jimma had poor basic and practical knowledge scores on Salmonella, mycotoxins, and biosecurity measures. Thus, awareness creation is paramount to improve these gaps to reduce the impact of mycotoxin contamination and poultry diseases and consequently to improve food security and food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The finfish aquaculture sector of Bangladesh plays a vital role in food security and the national economy. However, its sustainability is often jeopardized by disease outbreaks. This study evaluated disease management practices, biosecurity adoption status, and the factors influencing disease occurrence and biosecurity adoption in Bangladesh’s finfish aquaculture sector. Data were collected from 400 farmers across 6 major fish-producing districts through an online survey tool covering farmer demographics, fish culture practices, disease management practices, and adoption of biosecurity measures. Results revealed that most farmers were male (87%), experienced (> 10 years, 53%), literate, full-time (78%) operators, managing small-scale farms (< 0.45 ha), and favored polyculture technique. Disease occurrence ranked among the top two challenges, affecting approximately 70% of the studied farmers. Common disease management practices included water quality management and chemical therapeutics use (91% each), antibiotics use (53%), and other operational modifications. Overall, biosecurity adoption among farmers was approximately 68%, with 56% identified as high adopters. Widely adopted biosecurity practices included regular farm monitoring and having proper feed storage (96% each) while avoiding restocking (14%) was the least adopted. Significant (P < 0.05) regional variations were observed in farmer demographics, fish culture practices, disease occurrences, and biosecurity adoption levels. Significant associations between disease occurrence and biosecurity adoption with several socio-demographic and operational factors emphasized the need for tailored interventions. The findings thus underscore the importance of area-specific biosecurity guidelines and strategic approaches to enhance biosecurity compliance, reduce disease risks, and ensure the sustainability of the aquaculture sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South American camelids (SACs), particularly llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Vicugna pacos) are gaining popularity in Europe. Initially valued for their fiber and land management capabilities, these animals are now also kept for animal therapy, outdoor activities, and as companion animals. Despite their close interactions with humans and other animals, there is limited research on the transmission of microbes or antimicrobial resistance genes from SACs. This study aimed to survey the fecal carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL- E. coli) in SACs. A questionnaire was administered on-site to the farmers to survey management and biosecurity measures. Twelve farms from northern Italy (Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna) participated in the study. Fecal samples were analyzed to identify ESBL- E. coli and subjected to bacteriological culture on CHROMagar™ ESBL plates. Isolate identification was accomplished by MALDI-TOF MS, then subjected to the double-disk synergy test (DDST) and examined for 3 ESBL-encoding genes (blaCTX−M, blaTEM, blaSHV) via PCR analysis. A total of 125 SACs (19 llamas and 106 alpacas) were included. Four (3.2%) of these animals were positive for ESBL- E. coli. Two isolates carried the blaCTX−M gene; one had both blaCTX−M and blaTEM, and one was negative for all ESBL-encoding genes. Furthermore, none of the ESBL- E. coli isolates tested positive for the blaSHV gene. Several data from our questionnaire revealed a lack of biosecurity protocols, which aligns with other studies. The prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria identified in this study was lower than in different other studies. Despite the low biosecurity levels observed on the SAC farms, our findings showed a low occurrence of ESBL- E. coli and a low carriage rate of multidrug-resistant (MDR) ESBL- E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-indigenous Species (NIS) pose significant threats to marine biodiversity globally, especially in ecologically sensitive habitats such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This study uses data collected in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (North Atlantic), Portugal, to create a spatial model aiming to (1) develop a spatially explicit index of NIS dispersal from known hotspots such as ports, harbours, marinas, and anchoring areas; (2) assess the relative vulnerability of Madeira's MPAs to local NIS dispersion and establishment; and (3) provide insights for a scalable NIS monitoring framework and evaluating invasion risks. The spatial model integrates maritime traffic intensity and proximity to NIS hotspots, using a straightforward approach that can be applied in data-limited contexts. While designed to address Madeira's regional challenges, the model is adaptable to other biogeographic contexts and can incorporate additional complexity, such as species-specific traits or ecological layers, to suit different settings. Our findings underscore the role of maritime infrastructure and vessel traffic in NIS spread, revealing the vulnerability of Madeira's MPAs due to insufficient ecological monitoring and the absence of NIS monitoring and early detection programs. This study provides practical recommendations for improving MPA management and mitigating NIS risks, contributing to regional conservation efforts. Additionally, it establishes a baseline risk assessment approach that can be customised and expanded to guide NIS management and biodiversity conservation in other regions, particularly those with similar challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Wildlife management across Europe is increasingly characterised by a 'war on wild boar'. In response to epidemiological and economic threats to pig production and agriculture, state agencies, policymakers and hunting organizations have altered their management as they attempt to contain wild boar. Through a cross-section overview of eight European countries with differentiated strategies – the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Poland, Spain, and Sweden – we analyze five critical components of contemporary wild boar management: categorizing, responsibilizing, calculating, controlling, and sanitizing. We consider three critical triggers that change how wild boar and, by extension, a range of other 'wild' species are managed in relation to the aforementioned categories: (over)abundance and population growth, biosecurity crises, and technological innovation. While these triggers, on one hand, might streamline transborder management policies, we show how wild boar also uproot longstanding wildlife management cultures by transforming hunting traditions, landowner-hunter relations and meat handling practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the pivotal role of the egg industry in the food supply chain, the absence of regular surveys over the past decades in Taiwan has resulted in a dearth of national-level data. This study endeavours to address the research void surrounding biosecurity while scrutinizing the technical efficiency of egg producers in an environment where there is no mandate to phase out battery cage systems and farmers have the autonomy to adjust their feeding strategies. We employ the stochastic frontier analysis framework to analyse farm-level data derived from a 2020 national survey of the egg industry in Taiwan, which includes 547 commercial egg farms, with 519 still utilizing battery cages and 28 farms having transitioned into alternative systems to meet higher Farm Animal Welfare standards. Our findings reveal that egg farmers who prioritize the improvement of biosecurity demonstrate greater technical efficiency. When considering the rearing systems, there is no significant difference in egg production rates between conventional and alternative systems. However, conventional systems exhibit higher efficiency in terms of total output. In essence, elevating FAW standards does not exert a discernible impact on the productivity of laying hens. Instead, farms employing conventional systems attain greater output due to their higher stocking density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) caused by the LSD virus (LSDV) severely impacts the economy of a country and its cattle industry. After the first outbreak in October 2023, South Korea decided to vaccinate cattle nationwide. This study specifically investigated the efficacy of the vaccination campaign against lumpy skin disease (LSD) and analyzed the seropositivity rates of LSD antibodies 2–3 months after vaccination to provide guidance regarding future vaccination strategies and biosecurity measures. In total, 3910 cattle were tested from four Korean provinces, with an overall seropositivity rate of 30.59 percent. Dairy cattle had higher seropositivity rates (42.97%) than Korean native cattle (29.21%). The availability of appropriate restraining facilities and vaccination methods has an influence on vaccine effectiveness. Although vaccination produces an adequate immune response, upgrading vaccination procedures, such as strengthening restraint facilities and employing professionals, can improve outcomes even more. This study offers useful insights into how to improve LSD control strategies in Korea and other affected countries. Lumpy skin disease (LSD), caused by the LSD virus (LSDV), a dsDNA virus of the genus Capripoxvirus, represents a significant cross-border infectious threat, particularly impacting cattle and water buffaloes through transmission by blood-feeding insects. Traditionally endemic to Southern Africa, LSD has rapidly spread over the past decade through the Middle East to Eastern Europe and China, reaching Korea in October 2023. This outbreak prompted a nationwide vaccination campaign, addressing both the disease's severe economic impact and its status as a notifiable disease under the World Organisation for Animal Health. This study assesses the seropositivity of the LSD vaccine in cattle across four Korean provinces 2–3 months post-vaccination, aiming to inform improvements in biosecurity and vaccination strategies. Overall, 30.59% of the cattle tested (1196 out of 3910) exhibited positive antibody responses, comparable to international post-vaccination findings. Analysis further revealed differences in the antibody positivity between farm types and management practices. Specifically, farms where vaccines were administered by veterinarians showed no significant difference in antibody positivity between Korean native cattle and dairy cattle, regardless of the presence of restraint facilities. However, on farms where vaccinations were conducted by the owners, dairy cattle demonstrated a higher seropositivity (43.30 ± 33.39%) compared to Korean native cattle (21.97 ± 20.79%) in the absence of restraint facilities. Further comparisons underscored the impact of restraint facilities on vaccination efficacy, with dairy farms generally achieving higher antibody positivity (29.43 ± 30.61%) than farms with Korean native cattle (23.02 ± 23.33%) (p < 0.05), suggesting that consistent vaccine delivery methods enhance immunogenic responses. Contrarily, no significant difference was noted in antibody positivity between large- and small-scale farms, indicating that farm size did not notably impact the effectiveness of the vaccinator. These findings emphasize that while current vaccines are sufficiently inducing immunity, enhancing vaccination strategies, particularly through trained personnel and improved restraint facilities, is crucial. This study's insights into the impact of vaccination and farm management practices provide valuable guidance for refining LSD control measures in Korea and potentially other affected regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Poultry management prior to transport can result in animal stress, injuries, and mortality. Here, we aimed to gather information from Flemish poultry farmers about their current pre-transport practices (i.e., selection of unfit chickens, catching preparation, catching, and crating) for spent hens and broilers. The results showed that a minority of farmers performed catch preparation, such as pre-selecting chickens unfit for transport. Practices on layer farms were less aligned with the EU legislation for water and feed withdrawal than on broiler farms. All birds were caught inverted except for one broiler farmer who used mechanical catching. Although mechanical catching may involve extra costs, increased biosecurity risks, and specific recommendations for the stable (height and width), it was reported as the preferred method for broiler catchers' well-being. Upright catching was considered better for animal welfare than catching more than three chickens by one/two legs, mechanically, or by the wings. Poultry farmers should be sensitized about the need for pre-catch selection, including clear guidelines about judging which birds are fit for transport. Pre-catch measures (e.g., closing the area under the aviary system, removing litter) can streamline the catching process and reduce animal suffering. The pre-transport phase induces stress, fear, and injury in poultry, but management choices greatly influence this. Pre-transport practices for spent hens and broilers in Flanders (Belgium) were studied. Poultry farmers (31 of 156 layers and 48 of 203 broiler farmers completed the survey) were surveyed on the selection of unfit chickens, catching and crating, and farmer opinion. A minority of farmers made a specific selection of chickens unfit for transport prior to catching (layers 25%: 5.1 ± 5.9 h, broilers 39%: 6.8 ± 7.0 h). More layer (69%) than broiler farmers (19%) withdrew feed too early (EU regulations stipulate max. 12 h before expected slaughter time). Layer farmers withdrew water earlier than broiler farmers (47.9 ± 51.1 min vs. 20.6 ± 23.3 min). More broiler than layer farmers believed that the container type affects the birds' welfare (48% vs. 27%; p < 0.05). On broiler farms, mechanical catching was preferred for catchers' well-being, while upright catching was considered better for animal welfare than catching more than three chickens by one/two legs, wings, or mechanically. Poultry farmers should be sensitized about the need for additional selection before catching, including clear guidelines about judging which birds are fit for transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]