Animal Disease Risk Research Articles

Scanning European Needs and Expectations Related to Livestock Biosecurity Training by Using the World Café Method

The European Union Animal Health Law (2016/429) emphasizes disease prevention, underpinned by livestock biosecurity, surveillance, and traceability, as key aspects to minimize the risk of animal diseases. An important element of biosecurity is the training of key actors involved in implementing it. However, their needs and expectations regarding this training are poorly known. Under the COST action BETTER (CA20103), a World Café was organized to identify the needs and expectations of biosecurity training for farmers, veterinary practitioners, veterinary students, and other actors. A total of 78 participants distributed in four groups participated in the World Café. Needs and expectations were identified and ranked in decreasing order of importance. For farmers, the most important aspects were training focusing on practical aspects, the planning of training sessions in the day to accommodate workload, the need to prepare multiple reminders of upcoming training, and the short duration of events. For veterinary practitioners, it was considered that a mixed approach, including a theoretical and a practical part where people are invited to create a biosecurity plan and a follow-up report, were the most important features of training. For veterinary students, creating a good knowledge of the main principles of biosecurity was found as an essential element of training. Regarding other actors, gaining an understanding in the spread of pathogens and the repercussions on the cost of animal products that diseases might have (consumers), training on good/best practices of cleaning and disinfection and the development of clear protocols (transporters), and a mixture of formal and informal training and training on communication skills (other actors) were considered important. The World Café was a useful method to have a first identification, discussion, and differentiation on livestock biosecurity training needs and expectations of the key actors, although additional follow-up research involving more participants from more diverse countries with different coverage of cultures and education would be beneficial. These needs and expectations are relevant and should be considered when designing new training courses.

Abstract P313: Chronic Circadian Disruption Impairs Blood Pressure Rhythm And Leads To Vascular Disease In Mice

Shift workers have an elevated risk of developing hypertension and higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. Circadian rhythm disruption increases cardiometabolic disease risk in both humans and animals. We hypothesized that chronic circadian disruption (CCD) impairs cardiovascular rhythms and leads to vascular disease. Male 8-week old C57BL/6J mice were subjected to a standard light/dark cycle (12-h light, 12-h dark, control) or a CCD protocol (10-h light, 10-h dark, T20) with ad libitum food and water for 10 wks. T20 mice had an increased rate of weight gain (n=6, p=0.04; time: p<0.001, light cycle: p<0.001). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and activity were measured by telemetry after 10 weeks of CCD. Control mice (12:12 LD) had significant diurnal variation in MAP, while T20 mice (10:10 LD) lacked diurnal variation (control 119±3 vs.101±2 mm Hg, dark vs. light, p<0.001; T20 114±13 vs.113±12 mm Hg, dark vs. light, p=0.86; n=3-4). Control mice had a diurnal variation in HR which was absent in T20 mice (Control 584±11 vs. 511±4 bpm, dark vs. light, p=0.001; T20- 537±14 vs. 526±5 bpm, dark vs. light, p=0.48; n=3-4). Dark phase HR was significantly lower in T20 mice (p=0.01, control vs. T20). Control mice had a light-dark difference in activity, while T20 mice lacked diurnal variation in activity with significantly higher light phase activity (p=0.04, control vs. T20). Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), a measure of vascular stiffness, was significantly higher after 6 weeks in T20 mice compared to control mice (Control: 1.60±0.1 m/s; T20: 2.25±0.1 m/s; n=6, p=0.0037), although aortic wall thickness was similar between groups. Wire myography in isolated aortic rings was used to assess vascular reactivity with cumulative concentration responses to phenylephrine (PE) and acetylcholine (ACh). CCD reduced sensitivity (EC50) to PE-induced vasoconstriction (Control: -6.92±0.06 M; T20: -6.74±0.04 M, n=6, p=0.03), while there were no significant changes seen in the ACh sensitivity or maximal response. These data show that CCD impairs cardiovascular and behavioral rhythms linked to the development of aortic stiffness.

Chronic circadian disruption impairs cardiovascular rhythms and leads to kidney disease in mice

Shift workers have an increased risk of developing hypertension and reduced kidney function. Disruption of behavioral or environmental circadian rhythms increases cardiometabolic disease risk in humans and animals. We hypothesized that chronic circadian disruption (CCD) impairs cardiovascular rhythms and increases renal injury markers. Male C57BL/6J mice starting at 8-week of age were maintained under a normal light/dark cycle (12-h light, 12-h dark, control) or a CCD protocol (10-h light, 10-h dark, T20) with ad libitum food and water for 10 weeks. T20 mice gained significantly more body weight compared to control mice. Control mice showed a diurnal variation in food intake, while T20 mice had similar food intake during both light and dark phases with more food consumed in the light phase compared to control mice. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and locomotor activity were measured by telemetry after 10 weeks of CCD. MAP between the light and dark periods was significantly different in control mice (12:12 LD), while T20 mice (10:10 LD) lacked diurnal variation (control 119±3 vs.101±2 mm Hg, dark vs. light, respectively, p<0.001; T20 114±13 vs.113±12 mm Hg, dark vs. light, respectively, p=0.86; n=3-4). Control mice showed a diurnal variation in HR, whereas T20 mice did not show a light-dark difference (Control- 584±11 vs. 511±4 bpm, dark vs. light, respectively, p=0.001; T20- 537±14 vs. 526±5 bpm, dark vs. light, respectively, p=0.48; n=3-4). Dark phase HR was significantly decreased in T20 mice (p=0.01, control vs. T20). Control mice had a light-dark difference in activity, while T20 mice lacked diurnal variation in activity with significantly higher activity during the light phase (p=0.04, control vs. T20). Mice were placed in metabolic cages for urine collection during the light (control: ZT0-12; T20: ZT0-10) and dark (control: ZT12-0; T20: ZT10-0) phases. Urinary excretion of renal tubular injury markers albumin, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) were measured (ELISA). Control mice had significantly higher albumin and NGAL excretion in dark vs. light phases, while T20 mice lacked a significant diurnal pattern with significantly elevated albumin and NGAL during the light phase compared to control mice (albumin: control 1.00±0.23 vs. 0.09±0.05 ug/hr dark vs. light, p=0.04, control light vs. T20 light, p=0.04; NGAL: control 1410±223 vs. 89±58 pg/hr dark vs. light, p=0.02, control light vs.T20 light, p=0.04, n=4-6). CCD also blunted the diurnal rhythm of KIM-1 excretion (light cycle, p=0.04, n=3-6). The diurnal variation in sodium and potassium excretion was also lost in T20 mice. These results indicate that CCD impairs cardiovascular rhythms as well as diurnal excretion of electrolytes and renal injury markers, which may increase risk for kidney disease. P01HL136267, AHA 856877 This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Evaluation Survey on Agreement with Existing Definitions of Biosecurity with a Focus on Livestock.

Disease prevention, including biosecurity, surveillance, and traceability are key aspects to minimize the risk of animal diseases causing harm to society. Diseases for which biosecurity are needed depend on species of interest, e.g., African swine fever, avian influenza, or foot-and-mouth disease. However, several definitions of biosecurity co-exist in the literature. Under the new COST Action "Biosecurity Enhanced Through Training Evaluation and Raising Awareness" (BETTER) CA20103, we launched an initial survey on the agreement with eight existing definitions of (livestock) biosecurity, to rank keywords to consider before attempting a more consolidated definition, and to select the desirable qualities of a definition of livestock biosecurity. Respondents (N = 316) had a male-female gender ratio close to one, were mostly between 25 and 54 years old, and had animal health as the main field of expertise (30% were government officials). The significant most popular biosecurity definition was the one that conceptualized the rules of 5B's (bio-exclusion, bio-containment, bio-compartmentation, bio-prevention, and bio-preservation). The top two keywords to consider for the consolidation of the biosecurity definition were "prevention" and "measures". The optimal biosecurity definition needs to be operational and related to animal health but also comprehensible, simple, and related to public health. The survey results highlight the need for the integration of more aspects in the existing definitions of livestock biosecurity (prevention of zoonoses and preservation of the environment and diversity).

Epizootic Risk of Contagious Animal Pathology in Agro-Industrial Complex of the Northwestern Region of Russia

Introduction. Urbanisation of territories creates a critical risk related to contagious animal diseases. The agro-industrial complex (AIC) of the Northwestern region is an important component of the food security system of the Russian Federation. The research is aimed at studying and defining the degree of epizootic risk of contagious animal diseases in the region, determining the degree of epizootic threat thereof at the population and interpopulation levels.Materials and methods. For conducting the study the comprehensive epizootological approach (analysis) was used, along with the methods of evidence-based epizootology, epizootological diagnostics, methods of modern prognostics and statistical methods of quality control.Results. Functioning of infectious parasitic systems have been studied under specific conditions of place and time, using digitalisation achievements and statistical quality control. The epizootological categories have been proposed and applied for the three-dimensional measurement of the epizootic manifestation of contagious diseases using the corresponding units for their mathematical measurement (indicator of ill-being, epizootic index, incidence and prevalence, pathogenicity spectrum, frequency, recurrence, seasonal epizootic growth and year-round disease incidence). All the above allows carrying out the epizootic supervision over the formation and functioning of separate nosological units in animal populations under specific conditions of place and time. Using the comprehensive epizootological approach and the evidence-based epizootological methodology, the degree of epizootic risk of contagious animal (bird) diseases in the agro-industrial complex of the Northwestern region was studied in relation to the various economic and technological levels of animal husbandry and the degree of territory urbanisation.Discussion and conclusions. It has been found that in the agro-industrial complex of the metropolis suburban area of the Northwestern region, there have formed and periodically appear 45 animal diseases, predominantly of infectious etiology (62.2 %). The different degree of diseases epizootic risk was revealed: from its absence, in case of 4 nosological units, up to high and very high degree, in case of 15 nosological units (33.3 % of the total number). Therefore, the purpose of the present work was to study the degree of the risk of infectious diseases potential occurrence in populations of production animals in various areas of the Northwestern region and to identify the cause-andeffect indicators underlying the differences.

Animals Exposed to Leptospira Serogroups Not Included in Bacterins in the United States and Puerto Rico

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease. Pathogenic leptospires colonize the renal tubules and genital tract of animals and are excreted via urine. Transmission occurs via direct contact or through contaminated water or soil. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) is the gold standard for the serodiagnosis of leptospirosis. The present study aims to evaluate animal exposure to Leptospira in the U.S. and Puerto Rico during the period 2018-2020. The presence of antibodies against pathogenic Leptospira spp. was assessed with the MAT according to the standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health. A total of 568 sera were submitted for diagnostic, surveillance, or import/export testing from the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Seropositivity (≥1:100) was 51.8% (294/568) with agglutinating antibodies found in 115 (39.1%) cattle, 84 (28.6%) exotic animals, 38 (12.9%) horses, 22 (7.5%) goats, 15 (5.1%) dogs, 11 (3.7%) swine, and 9 (3.1%) sheep. The most detected serogroups were Australis, Grippotyphosa, and Ballum. The results showed that animals were exposed to serogroups/serovars not included in commercial bacterins such as Ballum, Bratislava (only in swine vaccine), and Tarassovi. Our findings suggest that more studies should include culture and concomitant genotyping to reduce animal disease and zoonotic risk through efficacious vaccine and diagnostic strategies.

Woody plant encroachment and the ecology of vector‐borne diseases

Abstract Vector‐borne diseases (VBDs) impact human and animal health globally, and their ecology and transmission are affected by human‐caused ecosystem and biome transitions. Woody plant encroachment (WPE), a top driver of biome and land cover transitions in grasslands and savannas of the world, greatly changes abiotic conditions, vegetation and animal populations and communities. Although these effects mirror mechanisms by which other ecosystem and land cover changes influence VBD ecology, few studies have evaluated if WPE expands distributions and increases the transmission of VBDs. We develop a conceptual framework for WPE effects on VBDs by synthesizing key literature on these topics and on impacts of land cover change on diseases broadly. We also present examples of WPE systems from two continents illustrating documented and likely effects on VBD systems, and we outline a prospectus for future research evaluating such effects. This synthesis highlights the potential for WPE to increase the transmission of VBDs world‐wide. WPE's effects on landscape composition, local vegetation, abiotic conditions, and vector and host resources, interactions and population and community processes, likely impact VBD distributions, transmission and health outcomes. Much additional research is needed on topics like the effects of WPE management on health risks associated with VBDs. Synthesis and applications. Woody plant encroachment (WPE) is drastically changing grasslands and savannas world‐wide. Its well‐documented influences on abiotic conditions (e.g. temperature and humidity), vegetation and wildlife are having previously underappreciated effects on the ecology of vector‐borne diseases, likely increasing spatial distributions and transmission of diseases. Management to reduce WPE is ongoing in much of the world due to its degradation of ecosystem services like biodiversity, livestock production and water quality and quantity. The ecosystem disservice of elevated disease risk in humans, wildlife and domestic animals should be an additional consideration when making land management and policy decisions related to WPE.

Assessing the introduction risk of vector-borne animal diseases for the Netherlands using MINTRISK: A Model for INTegrated RISK assessment.

To evaluate and compare the risk of emerging vector-borne diseases (VBDs), a Model for INTegrated RISK assessment, MINTRISK, was developed to assess the introduction risk of VBDs for new regions in an objective, transparent and repeatable manner. MINTRISK is a web-based calculation tool, that provides semi-quantitative risk scores that can be used for prioritization purposes. Input into MINTRISK is entered by answering questions regarding entry, transmission, establishment, spread, persistence and impact of a selected VBD. Answers can be chosen from qualitative answer categories with accompanying quantitative explanation to ensure consistent answering. The quantitative information is subsequently used as input for the model calculations to estimate the risk for each individual step in the model and for the summarizing output values (rate of introduction; epidemic size; overall risk). The risk assessor can indicate his uncertainty on each answer, and this is accounted for by Monte Carlo simulation. MINTRISK was used to assess the risk of four VBDs (African horse sickness, epizootic haemorrhagic disease, Rift Valley fever, and West Nile fever) for the Netherlands with the aim to prioritise these diseases for preparedness. Results indicated that the overall risk estimate was very high for all evaluated diseases but epizootic haemorrhagic disease. Uncertainty intervals were, however, wide limiting the options for ranking of the diseases. Risk profiles of the VBDs differed. Whereas all diseases were estimated to have a very high economic impact once introduced, the estimated introduction rates differed from low for Rift Valley fever and epizootic haemorrhagic disease to moderate for African horse sickness and very high for West Nile fever. Entry of infected mosquitoes on board of aircraft was deemed the most likely route of introduction for West Nile fever into the Netherlands, followed by entry of infected migratory birds.

Avian Influenza Risk Environment: Live Bird Commodity Chains in Chattogram, Bangladesh.

In this paper, we identify behaviours in live bird commodity chains in Chattogram, Bangladesh, which may influence the risk of pathogen emergence and transmission: the nature of poultry trade, value appropriation and selling sick or infected birds. Examining the reasons why actors engage in these behaviours, we emphasise the politics of constraints within a context of real-world decisions, governed by existential and pragmatic agency. Focusing on contact zones and entanglement, analysing patron-client relationships and precarious circumstances, we argue that agency and structure specific to the Bangladeshi context produce a risk environment. Structural constraints may reinforce risky occupational practises and limit individual agency. Structural constraints need to be addressed in order to tackle animal and zoonotic disease risk along live animal commodity chains.

Abstract P167: Chronic Circadian Disruption Impairs Cardiovascular Rhythms In Mice

Shift workers have an increased risk of developing hypertension and higher incidence of metabolic syndrome. Circadian rhythm disruption increases cardiometabolic disease risk in humans and animals. We hypothesized that chronic circadian disruption (CCD) disrupts blood pressure, heart rate, and locomotor activity rhythms. Male 8-week old C57BL/6J mice were under a standard light/dark cycle (12-h light, 12-h dark, control) or a CCD protocol (10-h light, 10-h dark, T20) with ad libitum food and water for 10 weeks. T20 mice gained significantly more body weight (n=6, p=0.04; time: p<0.001, light cycle: p<0.001). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and locomotor activity were measured by telemetry after 10 weeks of CCD. Average MAP, HR, and activity were calculated during light and dark periods. MAP between the light and dark periods was significantly different in control mice (12:12 LD), while T20 mice (10:10 LD) did not show diurnal variation (Control 119±3 mm Hg vs.101±2 mm Hg, dark vs. light, respectively, p<0.001; T20 114±13 mm Hg vs.113±12 mm Hg, dark vs. light, respectively, p=0.86; n=3-4 in all groups). Control mice showed a diurnal variation in HR, whereas T20 mice did not show a light-dark difference (Control 584±11 bpm Hg vs. 511±4 bpm, dark vs. light, respectively, p=0.001; T20 537±14 bpm vs. 526±5 bpm, dark vs. light, respectively, p=0.48; n=3-4 in all groups). Dark phase HR was significantly decreased in T20 mice (p=0.01, control dark vs. T20 dark). Control mice showed a light-dark difference in activity, while T20 mice lacked diurnal variation in the activity rhythm (Control 9.6±1.3 counts/min Hg vs. 3.1±0.3 counts/min, dark vs. light, respectively, p<0.001; T20 6.9±0.3 counts/min vs. 6.0±0.8 counts/min, dark vs. light, respectively, p=0.92; n=3-4 in all groups). T20 mice also displayed significantly higher activity during the light phase (p=0.04, control light vs. T20 light). Time of day and the interaction between time of day and light cycle, respectively, were significant between control and T20 mice for MAP, HR, and activity (n=3-4, MAP: p=0.001 and p=0.002; HR: p=0.001 and p=0.004; Activity: p=0.001 and p=0.004). These results indicate that CCD impairs cardiovascular and behavioral rhythms, which may lead to cardiovascular disease.

Divide-and-conquer: machine-learning integrates mammalian and viral traits with network features to predict virus-mammal associations

Our knowledge of viral host ranges remains limited. Completing this picture by identifying unknown hosts of known viruses is an important research aim that can help identify and mitigate zoonotic and animal-disease risks, such as spill-over from animal reservoirs into human populations. To address this knowledge-gap we apply a divide-and-conquer approach which separates viral, mammalian and network features into three unique perspectives, each predicting associations independently to enhance predictive power. Our approach predicts over 20,000 unknown associations between known viruses and susceptible mammalian species, suggesting that current knowledge underestimates the number of associations in wild and semi-domesticated mammals by a factor of 4.3, and the average potential mammalian host-range of viruses by a factor of 3.2. In particular, our results highlight a significant knowledge gap in the wild reservoirs of important zoonotic and domesticated mammals’ viruses: specifically, lyssaviruses, bornaviruses and rotaviruses.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from humans to bats – An Australian assessment

SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, infected over 100 million people globally by February 2021. Reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to other species has been documented in pet cats and dogs, big cats and gorillas in zoos, and farmed mink. As SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to known bat viruses, assessment of the potential risk of transmission of the virus from humans to bats, and its subsequent impacts on conservation and public health, is warranted. A qualitative risk assessment was conducted by a multi-disciplinary group to assess this risk in bats in the Australian context, with the aim of informing risk management strategies for human activities involving interactions with bats. The overall risk of SARS-CoV-2 establishing in an Australian bat population was assessed to be Low, however with a High level of uncertainty. The outcome of the assessment indicates that, for the Australian situation where the prevalence of COVID-19 in humans is very low, it is reasonable for research and rehabilitation of bats to continue, provided additional biosecurity measures are applied. Risk assessment is challenging for an emerging disease where information is lacking and the situation is changing rapidly; assessments should be revised if human prevalence or other important factors change significantly. The framework developed here, based on established animal disease risk assessment approaches adapted to assess reverse zoonotic transmission, has potential application to a range of wildlife species and situations.

4-H youth advance biosecurity at home and in their communities

Youth participants in 4-H animal science projects are involved extensively with raising and exhibiting agricultural animals, often on backyard farms (Smith and Meehan 2012). Since backyard farms can serve as sources and vectors of pathogens (FAO 1999; WHO 2011), it is critical that 4-H youth take an active role in preventing the introduction and spread of economically important animal diseases. Fifteen 4-H youth from two counties in California participated in the 4-H Bio-Security Proficiencies Program, a long-term community and citizen science project focused on animal and zoonotic disease risk education and mitigation. Then, in the role of community science experts, they acted upon the risk assessments and mitigation plans they had developed to improve biosecurity practices and reduce the likelihood of disease spread on their home premises and at their local county fair. They also extended their knowledge to the broader livestock exhibition community through outreach videos.

Swine producer willingness to pay for Tier 1 disease risk mitigation under multifaceted ambiguity

AbstractUnderstanding producers' risk perceptions of foreign animal diseases and their willingness to participate in prevention efforts is crucial for effective policymaking and communication strategies, yet there is limited empirical evidence to support initiatives. Using results from a 2017 survey of U.S. swine producers, we test whether producers' subjective risk perceptions affect their willingness to pay for interventions that could reduce potential foreign animal disease losses. Then, controlling for subjective risk perceptions, we determine the relative and total impacts of different representations of ambiguity on willingness to pay. Our results indicate that producers have a mean willingness to pay of $0.581 per pig per year. We find no difference in willingness to pay under alternative representations of ambiguity characterized by probability of occurrence, damage, and damage duration. Rather, a producer with a higher subjective belief in the probability of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the U.S. swine industry, a higher level of formal education, operating as a contractor or integrator, and owning a truck‐wash has a higher willingness to pay. Also, the number of market hogs sold annually is an important determinant of willingness to pay for foreign animal disease risk mitigation. [EconLit citations: D81, Q11, Q18]

Social determinants of health and survival in humans and other animals.

The social environment, both in early life and adulthood, is one of the strongest predictors of morbidity and mortality risk in humans. Evidence from long-term studies of other social mammals indicates that this relationship is similar across many species. In addition, experimental studies show that social interactions can causally alter animal physiology, disease risk, and life span itself. These findings highlight the importance of the social environment to health and mortality as well as Darwinian fitness-outcomes of interest to social scientists and biologists alike. They thus emphasize the utility of cross-species analysis for understanding the predictors of, and mechanisms underlying, social gradients in health.

Informal trade in livestock and livestock products.

Informal trade in livestock and livestock products is of special concern because of the risk of spreading animal and human diseases. At the same time, informal trade can contribute to people's livelihoods and food security, especially in lowand middle-income countries. Informal trade may involve legal or illegal products. It may be domestic (or internal) or involve neighbouring countries; it may take place within a region or between distant countries. Entrepôt trade (or 're-exports') is a significant form of informal trade in livestock products. Pastoral mobility often entails movement across boundaries for trade and much of this is also informal. There are important economic, social, political, and environmental drivers for informal trade which make it difficult to eliminate. Informal livestock trade may be largely ignored by the authorities, implicitly encouraged, made less attractive, forcibly suppressed, or actively engaged with, in an attempt to mitigate its risks and enhance its benefits. To identify the optimal management approach, it is crucial to understand the importance and characteristics of informal trade, its benefits and risks, and the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of different strategies to address it. The authors describe a case study from East Africa to explore some of the issues raised by informal trade.

Cross-Validation of Generic Risk Assessment Tools for Animal Disease Incursion Based on a Case Study for African Swine Fever.

In recent years, several generic risk assessment (RA) tools have been developed that can be applied to assess the incursion risk of multiple infectious animal diseases allowing for a rapid response to a variety of newly emerging or re-emerging diseases. Although these tools were originally developed for different purposes, they can be used to answer similar or even identical risk questions. To explore the opportunities for cross-validation, seven generic RA tools were used to assess the incursion risk of African swine fever (ASF) to the Netherlands and Finland for the 2017 situation and for two hypothetical scenarios in which ASF cases were reported in wild boar and/or domestic pigs in Germany. The generic tools ranged from qualitative risk assessment tools to stochastic spatial risk models but were all parameterized using the same global databases for disease occurrence and trade in live animals and animal products. A comparison of absolute results was not possible, because output parameters represented different endpoints, varied from qualitative probability levels to quantitative numbers, and were expressed in different units. Therefore, relative risks across countries and scenarios were calculated for each tool, for the three pathways most in common (trade in live animals, trade in animal products, and wild boar movements) and compared. For the 2017 situation, all tools evaluated the risk to the Netherlands to be higher than Finland for the live animal trade pathway, the risk to Finland the same or higher as the Netherlands for the wild boar pathway, while the tools were inconclusive on the animal products pathway. All tools agreed that the hypothetical presence of ASF in Germany increased the risk to the Netherlands, but not to Finland. The ultimate aim of generic RA tools is to provide risk-based evidence to support risk managers in making informed decisions to mitigate the incursion risk of infectious animal diseases. The case study illustrated that conclusions on the ASF risk were similar across the generic RA tools, despite differences observed in calculated risks. Hence, it was concluded that the cross-validation contributed to the credibility of their results.

Carry-over and contamination of veterinary drugs in feed production lines for poultry and pigs

ABSTRACTThe current model of pigs and poultry production has increased stocking density and reduced downtime between lots. This scenario may favour a rise of infection and disease risk in animals. To avoid this problem, routine use of drugs has been made, intensifying the possibility of residues in animal products and antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this study was to measure carry-over and contaminants of veterinary drugs included in the feed production lines for poultry and pigs. Samples were taken from 25 production lines. LC-MS/MS was used for simultaneous analysis of 62 active ingredients. In the medicated feed, 80.4% of the samples had a concentration of active ingredients different from the stated doses. In 70% of the feed samples, there was heterogeneity in the mixture of active ingredients. In subsequent feeds, carry-over was greater than 1% of the stated dose in 63% of cases. Of the 25 analysed lines, only one showed no contamination with other active ingredients. No correlations were found between the nutritional composition of the feed and carry-over. The present study demonstrated that the current production model allows the occurrence of unwanted drugs in feed-in doses that can contaminate animal products and can select antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

United States feedlot operator willingness to pay for disposal capacity to address foreign animal disease risk.

Foreign animal diseases can cause severe and lasting economic impacts to producers, directly and indirectly. Understanding producer investment cost structures can provide industry and policy makers better tools to encourage biosecurity adoption. Consistent with the literature, many factors can contribute to an individual operator's decision to invest in biosecurity based on individual characteristics, perception of disease likelihood, or expected losses associated with a disease event. We used a producer survey and a one-and-one-half bound econometric model to estimate feedlot operator willingness to pay to invest in disposal capacity within the next 3years. Results indicate an average willingness to pay of $14,310 for a one-time investment in on-farm disposal capacity to address carcass movement restrictions during a disease outbreak. We found several factors that contribute to and explain the heterogeneity between feedlots and their adoption decisions. Primarily, size of the feedlot and death loss rate significantly impact adoption, which both potentially speak to the financial liquidity and investment potential of a feedlot enterprise. While there is no failsafe in disease prevention, these results provide a better understanding for how to study and structure policy and cost structures to incentivize adoption of biosecurity.

Creating a framework for the prioritization of biosecurity risks to the New Zealand dairy industry.

The New Zealand dairy sector relies on robust biosecurity measures to control and mitigate a wide range of threats to the industry. To optimize the prioritization of organisms and manage the risk they pose to the sector in a transparent and credible way, the Dairy Biosecurity Risk Evaluation Framework (D-BRiEF) was developed. This comprehensive framework was specifically designed for decision support, using a standardized approach to address the full spectrum of biosecurity threats to the sector, including exotic and endemic animal disease organisms, pest plants and insects. D-BRiEF is underpinned by three main processes, namely (i) hazard identification; (ii) multicriteria risk assessment; and (iii) communication for risk management. Expert knowledge and empirical data, including associated uncertainty, are harnessed in a standardized format. Results feed into a probability-impact model that was developed in close collaboration with dairy sector economists to provide overall comparative 10-year quantitative economic impact estimates for each assessed risk organism. A description of the overarching framework, which applies to diverse organism groups, is presented with detailed methodology on both endemic and exotic animal disease risk organisms. Examples of visual outputs are included, although actual ranking results are not reported due to industry confidentiality. D-BRiEF can provide a decision advantage to DairyNZ biosecurity risk managers and sector stakeholders by creating a transparent process that can be interrogated and updated at multiple levels to fully understand the layers of risk posed by different organisms.