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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]

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: 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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Nassella neesiana (Chilean needle grass) reduces farm profitability through its sharp seeds that damage wool, skins, hides and carcasses. It poses a biosecurity risk in New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay region due to its seed dispersal via gravel and crushed aggregate from braided rivers. This study evaluated flotation and sieving to remove both dry and imbibed panicle seeds. We measured their length, width, mass, flotation, and passage through sieves with and without the awn (a hygroscopic, bristle-like structure). The dry awned seeds were, on average, 70.12 mm long and 1.13 mm wide, increasing to 74.07 mm long and 1.21 mm wide when imbibed. With imbibition, their mass with awn, increased from 9.41 to 14.06 mg, and from 3.96 to 5.04 mg with awn detached. Flotation was highest for the dry awned seeds (50%) and lowest for imbibed awned seeds (3%). The awn and imbibition restricted the seeds’ passage through sieves while sand and a crushed aggregate (GAP 20 metal) facilitated their passage. The results indicate that flotation would be ineffective for removing N. neesiana seeds from river gravel but that an 8 mm aperture sieve could effectively remove them along with fine aggregate particles. [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]

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]

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]

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to report the impact of production practices and sanitary management on the prevalence of Neospora caninum (N caninum) and bluetongue virus (BTV) in Creole goats from the tropical dry forest of Utcubamba, Peru. METHODS 354 blood samples were obtained from male and female goats of diverse ages reared under an extensive productive system. The diagnosis of N caninum and BTV was conducted through a commercial ELISA kit (iD.vet) with readings taken on a Bio-Rad iMark microplate reader at 450 nm. Additionally, a survey was conducted with 18 goat producers to categorize them based on social, technical (production, health, reproduction, nutrition, and infrastructure), environmental, and economic factors. RESULTS The overall seroprevalence of N caninum and BTV in goats was 6.21% and 7.06%, respectively, Notably, group II farmers had the highest prevalence rates at 7.69% for N caninum and 23.08% for BTV. This group comprises producers with fewer than 21 goats, while group III includes 14.3% of producers with over 60 goats and better infrastructure. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the presence of N caninum and BTV in goats of Utcubamba, Peru. Group II displayed the highest prevalence rates, suggesting that herd size and management infrastructure influence disease prevalence. CLINICAL RELEVANCE In the tropical dry forest of Utcubamba, inadequate management of N caninum carrier agents (eg, nondewormed dogs) heightens transmission risk, while the tropical climate supports BTV vectors. Effective diagnosis and health management strategies, including vector control and biosecurity practices, are crucial for ongoing herd health monitoring. [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 and Aim: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli in dairy farm wastewater represents a significant threat to environmental and public health due to the dissemination of antibiotic-resistance genes. This study investigates the molecular profiles of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates harboring blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaSHV genes from dairy farm wastewater in East Java, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Wastewater samples (n = 342) were collected from six major dairy regions in East Java: Pasuruan, Malang, Tulungagung, Blitar, Batu, and Kediri. The samples underwent bacterial isolation, identification, and ESBL phenotypic screening using the double-disk synergy test (DDST). Molecular genotyping of blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaSHV was conducted using a polymerase chain reaction. Results: Of the samples, 69.30% (237/342) tested positive for E. coli, with 32.91% (78/237) identified as ESBL producers through DDST. Molecular genotyping confirmed ESBL genes in 28.20% (22/78) of the isolates. The genotypic distribution was 77.2% (17/22) blaTEM, 4.5% (1/22) blaCTX-M, 9.0% (2/22) blaTEM + blaSHV, and 9.0% (2/22) blaTEM + blaCTX-M. These findings highlight the dominance of blaTEM and the presence of multi-gene combinations in East Java's dairy farm wastewater. Conclusion: The identified molecular profiles underscore dairy farm wastewater as a critical reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes, particularly blaTEM. Addressing this issue necessitates stringent antimicrobial use policies, improved wastewater management, and enhanced biosecurity measures. These findings support a One Health approach to mitigate environmental and public health risks associated with AMR. [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]

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]

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]

Across the world, governments attempted to mitigate the effects of the crisis posed by the COVID-19 global pandemic following its outbreak. In some instances, these efforts have involved deploying the military in the enforcement of containment measures. Previous research has explored the role of the Nigerian military in internal security and crisis management; however, a gap exists in by way of the absence of organised research that unpacks the use of air capabilities in mitigating a biosecurity threat such as COVID-19 within Nigeria’s territory. This study attempts to fill this gap by interrogating the early crisis management response of the Nigerian Air Force to the COVID-19 pandemic within Nigeria, through an examination of its security-based approach. Drawing on secondary sources of data, this qualitative study, argues that the early crisis management response to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Air Force provided a much-needed intervention towards saving human lives, given the biosecurity threat and inherent weaknesses in Nigeria’s healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In urbanised areas, marine infrastructure alters natural light regimes, creating habitats that are permanently shaded, affecting the community structure of settling and resident biota. While applications of artificial lights have been suggested to minimise impacts of shading or manipulate community composition for specific aims (e.g. carbon capture, biosecurity), their use has not been evaluated. We used two field experiments to test the effect of artificial light of low (1 × 20,000 lumen light) and high (3 × 20,000 lumen light or 1 × 66,000 lumen light) intensities (7 AM–7 PM on–off cycle) on benthic communities on marine infrastructure. Specifically, we assessed whether artificial lights (i) led to the development of communities similar to those under natural light conditions, (ii) enhanced the abundance of algae and discouraged invertebrates (functional groups that are inversely impacted by shade) and whether (iii) the extent to which artificial lights impact marine communities varies across environmental settings (high and low turbidity) where natural light availability differs. Impacts were assessed on new (two sites) and established communities (one site). We also assessed the effect of artificial light on predation/herbivory pressure using a caging experiment at the low turbidity site. For new communities developing on bare substrate in low turbidity conditions, low intensity artificial light resulted in similar communities to bare substrate exposed to natural light levels. High intensity artificial light increased algal cover beyond communities developing in natural light. Caging increased the cover of algae and invertebrates across all treatments. In turbid locations, artificial light (high and low) increased algal abundance, though to a lesser extent. The addition of artificial light had limited effects on established benthic communities. Synthesis and applications. Our experiments indicate that artificial lights can be effective in reversing effects of shading, but that targeted outcomes (e.g. increased algal or reduced invertebrate cover) are limited to bare substrates and low turbidity environments where more light is available, and algae are naturally abundant. [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]