Biosecurity

Theory and practice

Bob Connor, PAZA II Project

Outline of the presentation

Definitions
Biosafety & Biosecurity
Preventive approach
Practical exercise
Biosecurity measures
Strategies for disease prevention

Definitions
Bio... refers to Life (Greek) .... organic life
Biology

Biochemistry

Biotechnology

Biodiversity

Biomass
Microbiology
Microbiota
Microbe Antibiotic
Bioterrorism
Biohazard
Biosafety
Biosecurity

Biosafety and Biosecurity

Biosafety

Biosecurity

Safety of humans with

regard to biological,
chemical and physical
hazards

Protection of domesticated
animals from exposure to
microbial pathogens and
infectious agents

A hazard causes harm

Biosecurity measures

Assess risks of harm arising

Freedom from specific

pathogens, e.g., Foot and
mouth disease

Risk management

Biosafety and you ...

Human microbiota
We each carry 1.5 kg microbes
= 100 000 000 000 000 microbes
10 x more microbes than human cells
50% of these are intestinal
50% of faecal mass is microbes
You have 1.8 m2 skin with 1.5 trillion
bacteria
700 species of bacteria live in your
mouth!

Prevention is better than cure

Prevent exposure to pathogens (biosafety &
biosecurity)

Anti-Microbial Resistance

Prevent the spread of pathogens

Into premises (farms, hospitals, clinics)

Out of premises (farms, laboratories, markets,

slaughterhouses, waste disposal sites)

10-minute task
Group 1
Prevent infectious agent What
What m
measures
easures aagainst:
gainst:
from entering this room
[Scenario Farm]
Anthrax
Anthrax
Brucella
Brucella spp
spp
Group 2
Classical swine
Classical swine ffever
ever
Prevent infectious agent Lumpy
Lumpy sskin
kin d
disease
isease
from leaving this room
Foot
Foot aand
nd m
mouth
outh d
disease
isease
[Scenario Laboratory]

Biosecurity measures
Farm

Laboratory

Compartment concept

Animals
People
Food
Water
Transport
Traders

IN

OUT

Animals
Products
milk, wool,
eggs, ....
Animal waste
(faeces, urine,
bedding,
carcases,
excretions
[foetuses] ...)
Fomites
equipment,
clothing,
footwear
Vehicles

On-farm biosecurity measures

Quarantine and isolation
Cleaning & Disinfection (C&D) of personnel
(staff and visitors)
Pre-purchasing testing
C & D of vehicles
Wildlife proofing and double fencing
Feed supply, storage and protection
Closed herd status

On-farm biosecurity measures /2

Vaccination and deworming
Livestock movements (e.g., minimize & take
precautions)
Evaluation of enzootic herd status
Pest control (e.g., rodents; insects)
Manure handling to reduce feed contamination
Grouping of animals (e.g., age groups)

On-farm biosecurity measures

Cattle farms implementing biosecurity measures

DID THE VET CLEAN

HIS BOOTS BEFORE
VISITING US?

Why not take biosecurity measures?

Lack of knowledge or understanding

Lack of time
Habit never done it before
Laziness
Lack of evidence of benefits
Too expensive
Impractical, e.g., multi-premises enterprise
Too difficult
Markets dictating/forcing cattle purchases
Lack of education and motivation
Lack of control, e.g., wildlife transmission

Why not take biosecurity measures?

Levels of biosecurity
Individual farm, e.g., poultry production units; pig
complexes; fish farms; dairy farms; ...
Veterinary clinic
Laboratory, Market, Waste disposal plant
Regional compartment
National restrictions e.g., Australia

Preventive measures

Importance of disease prevention

Promotion of animal health and welfare
Economics
Reduction of Anti-Microbial Resistance
Post-antibiotic era

Strategies for disease prevention,

treatment and control

Exclude importation of animals and POAO

Quarantine of imported animals
Accurate identification and registration
Animal movement control
Isolation of infected animals standstill
Exclude POAO from animal feed
Test and slaughter of infected animals
Vaccinate susceptible animals
Chemotherapy (and chemoprophylaxis)

The real world

Apply the principles of biosecurity

http://www.micropia.nl/

: Epidemic curve for the lumpy skin disease outbreak in Greece 2015/16.

Kenton L. Morgan Veterinary Record 2016;178:508-509

Copyright British Veterinary Association. All rights reserved.