Biosecurity Compliance Research Articles

Evaluation of the relationship between personality traits, experience, education and biosecurity compliance on poultry farms in Québec, Canada

Biosecurity compliance is an issue in all types of animal production. Poor compliance is frequently related to lack of knowledge or comprehension. Human dimensions, such as personality and attitudes were also suggested as being related to compliance. As part of a larger study, personality traits, experience, education and training of employees, visitors and growers were evaluated to assess their relationship with their compliance with biosecurity measures when entering and exiting poultry barns. Biosecurity compliance was evaluated using hidden cameras. One hundred fourteen individuals involved in a total of 2379 visits on 23 poultry farms responded to a personality test. Results demonstrated that several determinants of compliance exist, and some are related to personality, experience and education. Three personality traits were significantly associated with compliance: responsibility, complexity and action-oriented. Such information has important implications for the selection of job applicants or task attribution and to enhance effectiveness of training programs.

Evaluation of strategies to enhance biosecurity compliance on poultry farms in Québec: Effect of audits and cameras

Biosecurity compliance is generally poor in all types of animal production systems around the world. Therefore, it is essential to define strategies to improve the implementation of biosecurity measures. This study evaluated the value of audits and visible cameras on compliance with biosecurity measures required when entering and exiting poultry barns on 24 poultry farms in Québec, Canada. Short term (first two weeks) and medium term (six months later) compliance were determined. Application of biosecurity measures was evaluated using hidden cameras. Video viewing revealed a total of 2748 visits by 259 different individuals. Results showed that bimonthly audits did not have any impact on medium term compliance. Visible cameras had a significant impact on changing boots (OR = 9.6; 1.9–48.4) and respecting areas (contaminated vs. clean) during the visit (OR = 14.5; 1.2–175.1) for the short term period. However, six months later, compliance declined and was no longer significantly different from controls. Duration and moment of the visit, presence of the grower or an observer, barn entrance design, number of barns, number of biosecurity measures requested, type of boots worn, gender and being a member of a grower's family were significantly associated with biosecurity compliance.

Horse owners’ biosecurity practices following the first equine influenza outbreak in Australia

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 759 Australian horse owners to determine their biosecurity practices and perceptions one year after the 2007 equine influenza outbreak and to investigate the factors influencing these perceptions and practices. A web link to an online questionnaire was sent to 1224 horse owners as a follow-up to a previous study to obtain information about biosecurity perceptions and practices, impacts of the 2007 EI outbreak, demographic information and information about horse industry involvement. Ordinal logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with poor biosecurity practices. Biosecurity compliance (low, medium, high), as determined by horse owners’ responses to a 16-item question on the frequency of various biosecurity measures, was used as the outcome variable in ordinal logistic regression analyses. Variables with a univariable p-value ≤0.2 were eligible for inclusion in multivariable models built using a manual stepwise approach. Variables with a p-value <0.05 in multivariable models were retained in the final model. Two potential confounders – age and gender of participants – were included in the final model irrespective of their p-values. Thirty percent of the respondents had low biosecurity compliance and were performing biosecurity practices ‘not very often’ or ‘never’. Younger people, people with two or more children, those who were not involved with horses commercially and those who had no long-term business impacts resulting from the 2007 EI outbreak were more likely to have lower biosecurity compliance. People who were not fearful of a future outbreak of equine influenza in Australia and those who thought their current hygiene and access control practices were not very effective in protecting their horses also had poor biosecurity practices. In this observational study we identified factors associated with a group of horse owners with low levels of biosecurity compliance. As this cross-sectional study only assesses associations, the identified factors should be further investigated in order to be considered in the design of extension activities to increase horse owners’ biosecurity compliance.

Description of 44 biosecurity errors while entering and exiting poultry barns based on video surveillance in Quebec, Canada

The effectiveness of biosecurity measures depends largely on the consistency of their applications by all those involved in poultry production. Unfortunately, poor biosecurity compliance has been reported repeatedly in poultry, as well in all other major animal productions. As part of a larger study, we conducted an investigation on eight poultry farms in Quebec, Canada, to evaluate compliance of existing biosecurity measures using hidden cameras. The objectives were to evaluate and describe the application of biosecurity measures when entering and exiting poultry barns. A total of 44 different mistakes were observed from 883 visits done by 102 different individuals. On average, four errors were recorded per visit. The maximum number of errors made by one individual during one visit was 14. People observed over several visits made on average six different errors. Twenty-seven out of the 44 errors (61.4%) were related to area delimitation (clean versus contaminated), six to boots (13.6%), five to hand washing (11.4%), three to coveralls (6.8%) and three to logbooks (6.8%). The nature and frequency of errors suggest a lack of understanding of biosecurity principles. There is thus a need to improve biosecurity training by making educational material available to all poultry personnel demonstrating why and how to apply biosecurity measures.

Evaluation des mesures de biosécurité dans les fermes avicoles au Québec par vidéosurveillance et principales erreurs commises

Evaluation of biosecurity measures based on video surveillance in poultry farms in Quebec and main failures. Biosecurity measures are designed to prevent the introduction of infectious diseases in flocks, and reduce the consequences of an infection. However, to be effective, biosecurity measures must be applied consistently by all. Poor compliance has been reported with all types of animal production, and many reasons have been given, such as the lack of understanding of biosecurity principles. It is essential to define strategies to improve the implementation of biosecurity measures. Different approaches have been studied in human medicine, mainly in hospital settings. They include daily observations and feedback to employees, training programs, the presence of an observer, and the increased availability of hand washing stations. These strategies have been shown to work, but only for the short term. We are currently conducting a study in 24 poultry farms in Quebec to determine the impact of audits and of visible cameras on the level of biosecurity compliance. The effect of these two strategies will be determined in the short term (2 weeks) and in the medium term (six months later). The targeted biosecurity measures are those required when getting in and out of poultry barns. The compliance is evaluated using hidden cameras. People filmed during the study will then be asked to complete a questionnaire designed to assess their personality profile. The first objective of the study is to determine whether audits or visible cameras increase biosecurity compliance. The second objective is to determine whether a relationship exists between personality profiles and compliance. Preliminary results from 13 farms show that poor compliance is indeed a present-day problem.