Biosecurity Management Research Articles

Animal health beyond the single disease approach – A role for veterinary herd health management in low-income countries?

In order to identify and evaluate health related constraints faced by Ugandan pig farmers, a veterinary herd health management approach (VHHM) was applied in 20 randomly selected pig farms in the Lira district, Uganda. Regular herd visits were conducted between July 2018 and June 2019, using e.g. interviews, observations, clinical examinations and laboratory analyzes to gather qualitative and quantitative data on relevant aspects of the production. The pig farmers kept on average 18.6 pigs, including 2.6 sows/year. The production figures varied considerably but were generally poor. The sows produced 1.6 litters/year and 8.2 piglets born alive per litter, the average daily gain was 101 g/day, and the mortality in growers was 9.7%. Four major constraints were identified; poor nutrition, infectious diseases, inferior biosecurity, and poor reproductive management. The quantity and quality of feed was suboptimal. Endo- and ectoparasites were very common, causing diarrhea, bronchitis, pneumonia, skin lesions and pruritus. Post-weaning diarrhea associated with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was important in the two largest herds, and parvoviral antibodies were found in seven herds, two experiencing problems with mummified fetuses. Biosecurity practices were insufficient and inconsistent, with free-ranging pigs and the use of village boars being the major risks. Reproductive figures were affected by poor estrus detection and service management. Overall, farmers lacked important knowledge on good management practices. In conclusion, the VHHM identified several important constraints that should be addressed in order to increase the productivity of Ugandan pig herds.

Value chain analysis of yellow broiler industry in Guangxi, China to inform H7N9 influenza control strategies

Yellow broilers are the primary source of poultry consumption in China and the predominant trade of live poultry. However, knowledge of the value chain is limited, which is vital evidence for the effective control of H7N9 and other zoonotic avian influenzas. The aim of the study was to map the yellow broiler value chain in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China and investigate its governance structure and practices relevant to the risk of H7N9 transmission.A value chain analysis was conducted in five areas of Guangxi from May to August 2018. To map the value chain, three focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted and stakeholders, products and premises involved and their interactions were identified. Then, 55 key informant interviews (KIIs) collected qualitative data on stakeholders’ profile, practices and interactions with other stakeholders and rules/norms that exist along the value chain. On-site observations were also carried out at different types of premises along the value chain to complement and validate findings of KIIs and FGDs. Participants were also asked to provide proportional estimates of each component in the value chain where possible. The qualitative data from FGDs, KIIs and on-site observations were analysed to create stakeholder profiles and a diagram of product flows and stakeholders’ interactions. Thematic analysis was used to identify the governance structure of the value chains and practices relevant to the risk of H7N9 transmission.The stakeholders and premises involved in Guangxi yellow broiler production, wholesale and retail were described, as well as their interactions. Contract farming is extensively adopted in Guangxi; consequently yellow broiler grower companies are the dominant stakeholders. The trading platform was identified as a key premise linking farms and live bird markets. The thematic analysis highlighted poor biosecurity practices in different premises along the value chain, which was supported by on-site observations. The operation of trading platforms reported in this study presents a disease risk but is not considered in the current H7N9 control programs. The study suggested that biosecurity management gaps need to be addressed through government-industry partnerships that require engagement with private stakeholders in the planning and implementation of H7N9 control strategies incentivising participation of grower companies, wholesalers and retailers.

Field evaluation of feeding spray-dried plasma in the starter period on final performance and overall health of broilers

The effect of feeding spray-dried plasma (SDP) during the starter period was evaluated with a commercial broiler integrator on performance and overall health of broilers. The I See Inside (ISI) methodology assessing gut health in broilers was used as a tool to evaluate the impact of dietary interventions under commercial conditions. One hundred farms with approximately 1.1 million broilers were used at a Brazilian broiler integrator. Two groups of farms were fed either a control or an SDP diet containing 1% SDP, from 0 to 10 d of age. Diets were formulated to have similar nutritional density, containing zinc bacitracin and CuSO4 from 0 to 28 d. After 10 d, both groups were fed common commercial diets. Performance data were analyzed together or by type of ventilation system: positive pressure or negative pressure. Birds were sent to market as they reached 3.05 kg; therefore, age at slaughter (AS) was evaluated as a dependent variable along with other performance measures. From the 100 farms in the trial, 35 (16 control and 19 SDP farms) were selected for the assessment of broilers health, biosecurity, and local management. For that, 6 broilers per farm at 14 ± 2 d of age were necropsied and ileum sampled for the ISI methodology evaluation. Biosecurity and management were also evaluated to obtain the influence of those parameters on animal health. SDP-fed birds demonstrated improved feed conversion ratio, reduced mortality, and 1 d less for AS (P < 0.05) vs. control group (P < 0.05) regardless of the type of ventilation. During necropsy, birds fed SDP showed lower coccidiosis and locomotor system lesions as the overall ISI score compared to controls. Histologic intestinal alterations were also lower in SDP-fed broilers (P < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding 1% SDP in the starter period to broilers resulted in improved performance and health under both good and bad management and biosecurity standards independent of the type of ventilation. Overall, there was good agreement between the ISI method and performance improvements observed.

Understanding biosecurity: knowledge, attitudes and practices of seaweed farmers in the Philippines

Farmers are one of the most important components of any plant-based cultivation industry. The Philippines is one of the world’s major producers of red carrageenophyte algae and has tens of thousands of farmers involved in this industry. The production of algae such as Kappaphycus and Eucheuma increased significantly from the early 1970s, when the industry was established, before declining from the mid-2000s, due to a number of reasons, including disease and epiphyte outbreaks. The introduction of biosecurity measures has been one approach used to tackle this decline. Biosecurity-related knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of the seaweed farmers were assessed in the four highest seaweed producing regions in the Philippines: (1) Tawi-Tawi, (2) Palawan, (3) Zamboanga and (4) Bohol. Analyses showed that seaweed farmers from Tawi-Tawi had relatively higher KAP mean scores than the other three sites. Palawan and Bohol farmers, however, scored lower on their knowledge, higher on their attitude and highest on their practices compared with the other areas. Farmers from Zamboanga scored the lowest in both their attitude and practice mean scores, although their knowledge score was one of the highest. This is the first KAP assessment applied to the seaweed farming industry globally and the results, in which the farmers’ biosecurity-related knowledge and practices, which scored “Fair” (50–75%) across all the regions, and their attitudes, which scored predominantly “Good” (> 75%) suggest that there is potential to raise the score for biosecurity practices. This assessment highlights how biosecurity challenges are currently addressed by seaweed farmers in the Philippines and suggests how the KAP survey could be used as a tool by policymakers and scientists to address gaps in biosecurity management practices.

Emission Sources of Campylobacter from Agricultural Farms, Impact on Environmental Contamination and Intervention Strategies.

Although extensive research has been carried out to describe the transmission pathways ofCampylobacterentering livestock farms, the role of livestock farms as source ofCampylobactercontamination of the environment is still poorly investigated. It is assumed thatCampylobacter-positive livestock farms contribute to an environmental contamination, depending on the animal species on the farm, theirCampylobacterstatus, the housing system, manure management as well as their general farm hygienic and biosecurity management. Different emission sources, like manure, air, water, insects and rodents as well as personnel, including equipment and vehicles, contribute toCampylobacteremission into the environment. Even thoughCampylobacterare rather fastidious bacteria, they are able to survive in the environment for even a longer period of time, when environmental conditions enable survival in specific niches. We conclude that a significant reduction ofCampylobacteremission in the environment can be successfully achieved if various intervention strategies, depending on the farm type, are applied simultaneously, including proper general and personal hygiene, establishing of hygienic barriers, insect controls, manure management and hygienization of stables, barns and exhaust air.

Predicting socio‐economic and biodiversity impacts of invasive species: Red Imported Fire Ant in the developing western Pacific

SummaryEffective biosecurity and pest management are fundamental to sustainable development. Invasive ants pose significant risks to the environment and economy, which are well‐managed by biosecurity agencies in developed countries. However, a comprehensive view of the potential impacts of invasive ants in developing Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) is lacking. We quantified the potential costs of the Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) across multiple sectors using an extrapolation analysis. Overall, we estimated that the impacts of Red Imported Fire Ant on developing PICTs could amount to over USD 329 million annually, corresponding to approximately 0.7% of combined GDP. Over half of the costs were predicted to result from impacts on the agriculture sector, a major source of employment and subsistence. We found that over 350 highly threatened species could be at risk from Red Imported Fire Ant. We would expect countries with Least Developed Country status and relatively low GDP to be least able to respond to an incursion of these ants, and as a result the costs could be higher than we have extrapolated. Red Imported Fire Ant could therefore potentially have considerable impact on the on‐going development of the region.

The current state of biosecurity and welfare of ornamental fish population in pet fish stores in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Aquaculture has undergone extensive development in recent decades due to its use as a source of protein for human consumption, as models for scientific research, and as pets. The purpose of this study was to survey ornamental fish stores in Chiang Mai province, Thailand to identify practices which affect life quality and welfare of pet fish including general management, biosecurity management, and knowledge about fish disease and drug usage of ornamental fish store owners. The results show that most pet fish stores have poor husbandry in terms of fish health based on the observed incidence of skin erosion and fin rot (92.86%) and white spots on the skin (78.57%) in store fish. Moreover, treatment of these health conditions were performed by experienced people working in the stores without consulting a veterinarian. The top three drugs used for treatment included malachite green oxalate, trichlorfon, and formalin. Interestingly, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline were also used frequently to treat fish disease. Despite a lack of formal training in fish management, fish health, and drug usage in ornamental fish, the knowledge of owners about fish disease and antibacterial agent usage was determined to be of an intermediate level based on testing. The information gained from this study can be used in future studies to identify stressors that affect pet fish welfare and to investigate biosecurity and ornamental fish welfare in the other sectors of the ornamental fish trade supply chain.

Effect of welfare standards and biosecurity practices on antimicrobial use in beef cattle

Antimicrobial use (AMU) in livestock species and the associated antimicrobial resistance are a global concern, thus strategies for their reduction and a more judicious use are needed. Previous research has revealed a link between improved animal welfare, biosecurity and AMU reduction in pig and dairy sectors, however, little is known about the beef sector. This study aimed to investigate the impact of welfare standards and biosecurity on AMU in beef cattle. Data on performance traits and AMU were collected over a 3.5 year time from 27 specialised beef farms and a treatment incidence was calculated using the defined daily dose for animals. An on-farm assessment was carried out by assigning a score from 0 (very poor) to 100% (very good) to 3 sections: welfare, biosecurity and emergency management. The highest average score was obtained for the welfare section (76%) followed by emergency management (39%) and biosecurity (24%). This suggests that major focus on strategies for the implementation of biosecurity measures and emergency management is needed, due to the low scores reported. A statistically significant lower AMU was observed with improved level of welfare. These results may be helpful for farm benchmarking and highlight the importance of improved animal welfare for an efficient antimicrobial stewardship.

Low doses of lactoferrin supplementation in weaning calves

Low doses of lactoferrin supplementation in weaning calves

Pencegahan Penyakit Pada Ternak Ayam Kampung Melalui Bimbingan Teknis Manajemen Sanitasi dan Biosecurity di Kecamatan Abeli

Biosecurity is an integral concept that influences the success of livestock production systems, especially in reducing the risks and consequences of infectious and non-communicable diseases. The problem faced by breeders in Abeli District is the lack of knowledge of breeders about maintenance systems that meet the eligibility standards of commercial native chicken farms, handling biosecurity, sanitation and animal health against diseases that are not yet optimal, so that native village chickens are often exposed to various diseases. Through the Thematic KKN FPt UHO program, efforts should be made to improve the knowledge and skills of farmers about bisecurity management that meets the standards for commercial village chicken farms. This service is carried out for one month, starting from June 13, 2020 to July 13, 2020, Abeli District, Kendari City. This community service activity was carried out by involving Thematic KKN FPt UHO participants. The program is carried out in the form of Technical Guidance and Counseling, namely (1) Bimtek and virtual / online counseling; and (2) Bimtek and counseling using face-to-face methods both individually and more and still pay attention to the Covid-19 prevention protocol. The material for this service program is handling biosecurity, sanitation and animal health. The results that have been achieved in the Thematic KKN FPt UHO program are improving the knowledge and skills of breeders in biosecurity management procedures which include three main activities namely isolation, traffic control and sanitation as an effort to prevent transmission of disease in native chicken farms

From the Frontline: Strengthening Surveillance and Response Capacities of the Rural Workforce in the Asia-Pacific Region. How Can Grass-Roots Implementation Research Help?

Health systems in the Asia-Pacific region are poorly prepared for pandemic threats, particularly in rural/provincial areas. Yet future emerging infectious diseases are highly likely to emerge in these rural/provincial areas, due to high levels of contact between animals and humans (domestically and through agricultural activities), over-stretched and under-resourced health systems, notably within the health workforce, and a diverse array of socio-cultural determinants of health. In order to optimally implement health security measures at the frontline of health services where the people are served, it is vital to build capacity at the local district and facility level to adapt national and global guidelines to local contexts, including health systems, and community and socio-cultural realities. During 2017/18 James Cook University (JCU) facilitated an implementation research training program (funded by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) for rural/provincial and regional health and biosecurity workers and managers from Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. This training was designed so frontline health workers could learn research in their workplace, with no funding other than workplace resources, on topics relevant to health security in their local setting. The program, based upon the WHO-TDR Structured Operational Research and Training IniTiative (SORT-IT) consists of three blocks of teaching and a small, workplace-based research project. Over 50 projects by health workers including surveillance staff, laboratory managers, disease control officers, and border security staff included: analysis and mapping of surveillance data, infection control, IHR readiness, prevention/response and outbreak investigation. Policy briefs written by participants have informed local, provincial and national health managers, policy makers and development partners and provided on-the-ground recommendations for improved practice and training. These policy briefs reflected the socio-cultural, health system and disease-specific realities of each context. The information in the policy briefs can be used collectively to assess and strengthen health workforce capacity in rural/provincial areas. The capacity to use robust but simple research tools for formative and evaluative purposes provides sustainable capacity in the health system, particularly the rural health workforce. This capacity improves responses to infectious diseases threats and builds resilience into fragile health systems.

Evaluation of intervention aimed at improving reproductive success in Orange‐bellied Parrots Neophema chrysogaster: Lessons, barriers and successes

SummaryAssessing feasibility and identifying constraints that affect project implementation is a crucial step for planning long‐term species recovery actions for field‐based programs. We report on the outcomes of a conservation intervention on the most endangered parrot in the world, the Orange‐bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster). We aimed to trial new techniques to increase reproductive success of wild nests and address key knowledge gaps. We aimed to achieve higher reproductive success using (i) intervention – where fertile eggs or nestlings would be fostered from captivity to wild nests that suffered infertility or had small brood sizes and (ii) rescue – where wild‐born nestlings would be removed from nests if they were ailing and either fostered to another nest or hand reared to improve their survival. Our project provided proof of principle that it is possible to implement intensive, individual‐level monitoring and intervention (via fostering of nestlings to infertile nests) to address reproductive problems for the Orange‐bellied Parrot. However, we also found important factors that hindered our ability to achieve project aims (management of biosecurity), and identified unexpected factors that have important implications for future application of these techniques (nest abandonment from video camera deployment, rapid death of unhealthy nestlings hindering rescue attempts). Our project tested techniques and tools to provide new approaches for fighting extinction of the Orange‐bellied Parrot, and yielded important new information about the species ecology and management options.

A review on Trichinella infection in South America

Trichinella spp. causes human trichinellosis by means of the consumption of raw or inadequately treated meat from domestic or game animals. In the Americas, as well as in other continents, Trichinella infection is a health issue for humans and has a negative impact on the pork meat market, generated by people’s fear of becoming infected with the parasite. The distribution of human cases and the sources of this disease in humans and animals were analysed in this report, which summarizes the information available regarding Trichinella infection in animals and humans in South America. Within South America, human infection with Trichinella was documented in Argentina and Chile during the period 2005-2019. Trichinellosis is endemic in these countries for, with human cases and foci in domestic and wild animals. In Argentina, human cases occur throughout the country, with foci found in pigs and wild animals. In Argentina, during the period 2012-2018, the number of suspected human cases reached 6,662. T. spiralis was identified in one South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) from Patagonia, Argentina, for the first time in the region in 2018. In Chile, 258 human cases of trichinellosis were confirmed during the period 2005-2015; out of those 258 cases, most samples which tested positive for Trichinella spp. (29.5%) were detected in the Metropolitan district (Santiago de Chile and outskirts), and 17.4% in The Lake district. Regarding age brackets, people between 30-49 years of age showed the most cases (40.1%). In Brazil, the infection is absent in domestic species but it has been found in wild boars (Sus scrofa) but limited to one or more region of the country. Within the animal species destined for food in South America, those that showed higher parasitical loads were pigs and wild boars, while armadillos (Chaetophractus villosus) and peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) showed very low Trichinella spp. larvae loads (0.04 - 0.1 larvae/g). Antibodies against Trichinella spp. have been detected in pigs from Ecuador and Bolivia. In Bolivia, antibodies were also found in humans. Peru, Colombia and Uruguay have no documented presence of Trichinella spp. in animals and humans. There is insufficient information regarding the presence of Trichinella spp. in domestic and wild animals, as well as in humans, since only a very limited number of surveys have been carried out. No papers with information on Trichinella spp. circulating in animals or humans have been published regarding the situation in Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana, Venezuela and Paraguay. Considering the growth of the guinea pig meat market in the Andean region, and the high prevalence of the disease reported in free range pigs and wild boars, as well as other game animal species, it is important to focus on the role of biosecurity and risk management, while improving meat market regulations, and detection of infection prior to consumption, in order to reduce the risk of transmission of this zoonotic disease to humans.

Missed Opportunities? Covid-19, Biosecurity and One Health in the United Kingdom.

Whatever we read about Covid-19, the word unprecedented is not far away: whether in describing policy choices, the daily death tolls, the scale of upheaval, or the challenges that await a readjusting world. This paper takes an alternative view: if not unpredictable, the crisis unfolding in the United Kingdom (UK) is not unprecedented. Rather, it is foretold in accounts of successive animal health crises. Social studies of biosecurity and animal disease management provide an “anticipatory logic” - a mirror to the unfolding human catastrophe of Covid-19, providing few surprises. And yet, these accounts appear to be routinely ignored in the narrative of Covid-19. Do social studies of animal disease really have no value when it comes to guiding and assessing responses to Covid-19? To answer this question, we describe the narrative arc of the UK's approach to managing Covid-19. We then overlay findings from social studies of animal disease to reveal the warnings they provided for a pandemic like Covid-19. We conclude by reflecting on the reasons why these studies have been paid minimal attention and the extent to which the failure to learn from these lessons of animal health management signals a failure of the One Health agenda.

Island invasion and reinvasion: Informing invasive species management with genetic measures of connectivity

Abstract Invasive species are the major threat to island biodiversity world‐wide. Genetic analyses assist in identifying invasion routes as well as revealing population connectivity, which both represent crucial information for conservation management strategies and risk evaluation. Such information is critical to safeguarding vulnerable species on nearshore islands, which often serve as wildlife sanctuaries. The house mouse Mus musculus has invaded islands around the world and is a model species for showcasing how genetic tools can be used to inform biosecurity management. The genetic population structure of 316 mice from 12 locations in the upper South Island of New Zealand was determined, using novel GenePlots and traditional population genetic tools based on 10 microsatellite loci, to identify gene flow and reinvasion pathways among mainland and island populations over a decade. On the mainland, populations remained genetically homogeneous over landscape scales of many tens of kilometres. In contrast, historically established island populations only kilometres offshore had low genetic diversity from prolonged isolation. Two islands were potentially colonized from both the mainland and each other in a hybrid swarm. Islands that had recently been invaded or reinvaded in the past decade had genetic profiles consistent with the adjacent mainland, suggesting failure of biosecurity procedures to prevent reinvasion, rather than eradication survivors. Although two islands were invaded by only a few individuals, on a third island many invaders simultaneously arrived. Synthesis and applications. Assessing the genetic structure and connectivity of mainland and island populations of an invasive species, using a combination of traditional and novel visualization tools, has uncovered a spectrum of invasion mechanisms and pathways. These results have informed ongoing biosecurity measures by revealing the locations and intensities of biosecurity threats, allowing targeted management actions to reduce the likelihood of island reinvasion.

A self-assessment tool to improve poultry farm biosecurity regarding avian influenza

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) poses an important threat to poultry farming and the whole value chain. Since biosecurity is a major strategy to reduce the risk of HPAI virus introduction into farms and poultry flocks, a self-assessment tool for farmers concerning their farm-specific biosecurity management was developed. It is based on a questionnaire referring to risk factors retrieved from the literature or elaborated by experts, respectively. The risk factors are related to farm-, biosecurity- and animal health-management. Their epidemiological relevance is expressed through weights that were determined by an expert panel in a two-stage Delphi approach. The overall risk of a farm is estimated as the complementary to the percentage compliance with the measures assuring a maximum biosecurity as represented by the compiled questions and their respective weights. The tool is offered as a free of charge, open-access web - based tool, the so-called AI-Risikoampel (AI-Risk Traffic Light), an online anonymous risk-check, which does not only allow to elicit farm-specific optimization potentials concerning biosecurity, but also generates a farm-specific to-do list with tasks ranked according to relevance. Biosecurity gaps may thus be closed by the farmer, possibly also in cooperation with a veterinarian or consultant. The to-date experience concerning the acceptance of the tool and the user statistics are presented.

Xylella fastidiosa invasion of new countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: Ranking the potential exposure scenarios

After the recent high-impact European outbreaks of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), a xylem-limited plant pathogenic bacterium native to the Americas, this research aims to rank the risks of potential entry, establishment and spread of Xf in new countries across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. A novel risk-ranking technique is developed, based on combining entry risk drivers (imported plants, direct flights and ferry connections) with risk factors related to establishment and spread (presence of potential insect vectors, vulnerable economic crops, alternative hosts and climate suitability) of this pathogen. This reveals that western European countries have the highest risk for entry, but that the Mediterranean basin runs the highest risk for establishment and spread of Xf. Lebanon in particular has the highest level of risk for Xf dispersal within its suitable territory. Countries without current outbreaks combining high risks of Xf arrival and establishment are mainly in the Mediterranean basin: Turkey is at the highest level of risk, followed by Greece, Morocco and Tunisia, which are ranked at the high level. The ranking model also confirms the vulnerability, in terms of invasion by Xf, of southern European countries (Italy, Portugal and Spain) in which the pathogen has already been reported. High summer temperatures in these southern countries are likely to be the significant determinant for the overall invasion process, while northern European countries have a high level risk for the arrival of the pathogen, but relatively low summer temperatures may limit establishment and spread of major outbreaks. In general, our study provides a useful approach for mapping and comparing risks of invasive non-native species and emerging pathogens between countries, which could be useful for regional horizon scanning and phytosanitary and biosecurity management.

Common Respiratory Diseases of Poultry in Bangladesh: A Review

Now-a-days, the poultry production in Bangladesh has become a sustainable and profitable industry. The poultry sectors are contributing to meet the national demand of proteins as well as implementing food security along with employment generation. The poultry industries are frequently affected by respiratory diseases. There are five viral respiratory diseases associated with respiratory systems such as Avian influenza (AI), Newcastle disease (ND), Infectious bronchitis (IB), Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT), and Avian metapneumovirus (AE). Among them, AI outbreaks have been occurring regularly with changing genetic characters since 2007 and atotal of 556 AI outbreaks have been reported yet in Bangladesh that placed in most AI reporter countries. Bacterial diseases like Mycoplasmosis, Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale, Fowl cholera, and Infectious coryza are mostly prevalent respiratory diseases in Bangladesh. Mycoplasmosis is become a major threat for poultry industry especially Sonali (a cross-bred) type chickens due to poor biosecurity and breeding management. With respect to fungal diseases, Aspergillosis or brooder pneumonia is a highly prevalent respiratory disease in Bangladesh with causing pneumonia in young chickens. However, respiratory diseases are prevalent in higher rates and cause outbreaks frequently.&#x0D; SAARC J. Agri., 18(1): 1-11(2020)

High phylogenetic diversity of Gallibacterium anatis is correlated with low biosecurity measures and management practices on poultry farms

ABSTRACT Gallibacterium anatis is considered one of the most common bacterial causative agents of reproductive tract disorders in poultry. In this study, phylogenetic analysis of partial rpoB sequences and biotyping using MALDI-TOF MS was done in order to investigate the genetic diversity of Gallibacterium isolates from 13 farms with different biosecurity measures and management practices. Sampling was done as a part of regular monitoring, except for Farms 9–13 that were included in the study to represent extensive production systems with lowest biosecurity levels. Pharyngeal and cloacal swabs were taken from live birds, while swabs from trachea, liver, peritoneum and oviduct were taken during necropsies. After cultivation and identification, strains from each farm were randomly selected for sequencing and biotyping. Both results showed high level of heterogeneity among the isolates originating from farms with low biosecurity levels, unlike isolates from farms with higher biosecurity levels and proper management that were more closely related and clustered together. Such correlation was statistically significant. Low biosecurity levels enable horizontal transmission of the pathogens, as well as gene transfer. The results confirm the importance of adequate biosecurity measures and management on poultry farms as they greatly affect the genetic diversity of the pathogens. Therefore, implementation of basic biosecurity measures could help control the heterogeneity of Gallibacterium strains, which would alleviate control of the infection prevalence on farms through immunoprophylaxis, and consequently improve poultry production. Also, the genetic diversity of G. anatis on poultry farms could be a good bioindicator of management practices and biosecurity measures used. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS High correlation between low biosecurity and high diversity of Gallibacterium anatis. Diversity of Gallibacterium is a good bioindicator of management practices on farms.

Supporting Urban Weed Biosecurity Programs with Remote Sensing

Weeds can impact many ecosystems, including natural, urban and agricultural environments. This paper discusses core weed biosecurity program concepts and considerations for urban and peri-urban areas from a remote sensing perspective and reviews the contribution of remote sensing to weed detection and management in these environments. Urban and peri-urban landscapes are typically heterogenous ecosystems with a variety of vectors for invasive weed species introduction and dispersal. This diversity requires agile systems to support landscape-scale detection and monitoring, while accommodating more site-specific management and eradication goals. The integration of remote sensing technologies within biosecurity programs presents an opportunity to improve weed detection rates, the timeliness of surveillance, distribution and monitoring data availability, and the cost-effectiveness of surveillance and eradication efforts. A framework (the Weed Aerial Surveillance Program) is presented to support a structured approach to integrating multiple remote sensing technologies into urban and peri-urban weed biosecurity and invasive species management efforts. It is designed to support the translation of remote sensing science into operational management outcomes and promote more effective use of remote sensing technologies within biosecurity programs.