Animal Health Biosecurity: Preventing and Controlling Disease Spread

Biosecurity

Set of practical steps to reduce disease-causing agents' entry, spread, or exit in a group of animals.

Chain of infection

Model illustrating the pathway of disease spread: agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host.

External biosecurity

Prevention of pathogens from entering your group.

Internal biosecurity

Prevention of pathogens from spreading within your group and from leaving to infect others.

Source of infection

Infected animals, contaminated environments, wildlife, feed, water, people, equipment.

Route of transmission

Direct contact, droplets/aerosols, fecal–oral, vectors like flies.

Susceptibility of animals

Factors such as immune status, stress level, age, vaccination, nutrition.

Quarantine

Isolation of apparently healthy animals with unknown health status to prevent introduction.

Isolation

Separation of sick animals to prevent the spread of disease.

Fomites

Inanimate objects that can carry pathogens.

Direct contact

Transmission through physical interaction between infected and susceptible animals.

Fecal-oral transmission

Pathogens spread via feces, contaminating the environment, food, and water.

Droplet transmission

Spread of respiratory pathogens via larger particles over short distances.

Aerosol transmission

Spread of pathogens via smaller particles that remain suspended in the air.

Vector-borne transmission

Spread of pathogens by vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, and ticks.

Iatrogenic transmission

Transmission caused by medical procedures, like shared needles.

Incubation period

Time from infection to visible signs of disease.

Asymptomatic carriers

Animals that shed pathogens without showing clinical signs.

Risk assessment

Process of identifying hazards and estimating likelihood and severity of their consequences.

Sourcing principles

Choosing suppliers with known health programs and minimizing commingling environments.

Health screening

Intake process to assess the health of new arrivals and prevent disease introduction.

Vaccination

A biosecurity measure that increases herd immunity against specific diseases.

Cohorting

Grouping animals by relevant risk factors to reduce disease spread.

High-risk periods

Times when animals are more vulnerable to disease, such as during birth or weaning.

Surveillance

Systematic monitoring of health signs to act early on potential outbreaks.

Record-keeping

Documenting health events and treatments to track disease spread and control efficacy.

Outbreak response

Structured approach to managing disease outbreaks through recognition, separation, and hygiene enhancement.

Notifiable diseases

Diseases that require immediate reporting to authorities when suspected.

Traffic flow

Management of animal, people, and equipment movement to minimize disease transmission.

Hygiene

Efforts to reduce pathogens in the environment through cleaning and disinfection.

AMR (antimicrobial resistance)

When microorganisms evolve to survive treatments that previously eliminated them.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Tools that protect staff from exposure to zoonotic diseases.

Waste management

Proper handling of manure and other animal waste to prevent pathogen spread.

Environmental persistence

The ability of a pathogen to survive outside a host for varying periods.

Pathogen categories

Includes viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and prions, varying in survival and spread.

Disease prevention

Strategies to reduce the risk of disease introduction or spread.

Pathway

The manner in which a pathogen can reach susceptible animals.

Cleaning

Process to remove organic material; the first step before disinfection.

Disinfection

Chemical inactivation of pathogens on surfaces after cleaning.

Sterilization

Elimination of all microbial life; not practical for most animal facilities.

Carcass management

Proper disposal of deceased animals to limit contamination and disease spread.

Feed hygiene

Practices to prevent contamination of animal feed from pathogens.

Veterinary oversight

Involvement of veterinarians in health programs to ensure animal welfare and biosecurity standards.

Animal flow

Movement of animals within a facility, crucial for biosecurity.

Bedding management

Handling and replacing bedding material to maintain a hygienic environment.

Transport biosecurity

Measures taken to minimize pathogen spread during animal transport.

Emergency preparedness

Plans to respond effectively to disease outbreaks or other biosecurity breaches.

Integrated pest management

Approach to managing vectors that helps reduce disease spread.

Intranasal shedding

Pathogen shedding through respiratory secretions, especially during illness.

Hand hygiene

Key practice to prevent pathogen transmission through hands.

Antimicrobial stewardship

Responsible use of antibiotics to reduce resistance and preserve effectiveness.