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de Vos CJ, Elbers ARW. Quantitative Risk Assessment of Wind-Supported Transmission of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus to Dutch Poultry Farms via Fecal Particles from Infected Wild Birds in the Environment. Pathogens 2024; 13:571. [PMID: 39057798 PMCID: PMC11279698 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13070571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A quantitative microbial risk assessment model was developed to estimate the probability that the aerosolization of fecal droppings from wild birds in the vicinity of poultry farms would result in the infection of indoor-housed poultry with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIv) in the Netherlands. Model input parameters were sourced from the scientific literature and experimental data. The availability of data was diverse across input parameters, and especially parameters on the aerosolization of fecal droppings, survival of HPAIv and dispersal of aerosols were uncertain. Model results indicated that the daily probability of infection of a single poultry farm is very low, with a median value of 7.5 × 10-9. Accounting for the total number of poultry farms and the length of the bird-flu season, the median overall probability of at least one HPAIv-infected poultry farm during the bird-flu season is 2.2 × 10-3 (approximately once every 455 years). This is an overall estimate, averaged over different farm types, virus strains and wild bird species, and results indicate that uncertainty is relatively high. Based on these model results, we conclude that it is unlikely that this introduction route plays an important role in the occurrence of HPAIv outbreaks in indoor-housed poultry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clazien J. de Vos
- Department of Epidemiology, Bioinformatics &Animal Models, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands;
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Tilli G, Laconi A, Galuppo F, Grilli G, Żbikowski A, Amalraj A, Piccirillo A. Supporting Measures to Improve Biosecurity within Italian Poultry Production. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1734. [PMID: 38929353 PMCID: PMC11201041 DOI: 10.3390/ani14121734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper describes the selection and validation of supporting measures (SMs) aimed at enhancing biosecurity compliance within Italian poultry farms. A tailored methodology, based on a stakeholders' survey involving farmers and advisors, included a virtual farm tour, group discussion, and farmer coaching. Virtual farm tours and group discussions were delivered during two meetings targeting meat and egg production stakeholders, separately. Coaching was validated in 26 pilot farms (PFs) by assessing farmers' attitudes towards change (i.e., ADKAR®) and farms' biosecurity score (i.e., Biocheck.UgentTM) before and after a minimum six-month period. A total of 20 out of 26 farmers agreed to implement at least one action plan (AP). Full implementation of the agreed APs was observed in ten farms, while others only partially implemented (n = 7) or did not implement (n = 3) the improvement. Most APs focused on enhancing house hygiene locks (n = 7), followed by bacterial auto-control after cleaning and disinfection (n = 4). Scoring tools indicated minimal or no variations in farmers' attitudes towards change and farm biosecurity. Virtual farm tours and group discussions were found to be effective in fostering interaction and facilitating the exchange of experiences and knowledge among farmers and stakeholders of poultry production. Coaching indicated that farmers might prefer implementing minor changes possibly influenced by time and cost constraints associated with structural interventions. These limitations could have also impacted the scores of the farmer/farm. The findings of this study provide a foundation for further application of SMs to improve biosecurity in Italian poultry farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuditta Tilli
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (G.T.); (A.L.)
| | - Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (G.T.); (A.L.)
| | - Francesco Galuppo
- Unità Locale Socio-Sanitaria (ULSS) 6 Euganea, Via Enrico degli Scrovegni 14, 35131 Padua, Italy;
| | - Guido Grilli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy;
| | - Artur Żbikowski
- Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159C, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Arthi Amalraj
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan, 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium;
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (G.T.); (A.L.)
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Laconi A, Tilli G, Galuppo F, Grilli G, Souillard R, Piccirillo A. Stakeholders' Perceptions of Biosecurity Implementation in Italian Poultry Farms. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3246. [PMID: 37893970 PMCID: PMC10603624 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The level of implementation of biosecurity measures (BMs), the reasons for not implementing BMs and the effectiveness of BMs were assessed according to the perceptions of stakeholders (i.e., farmers and advisors) in Italian poultry farms. For this purpose, data were collected using a questionnaire administered to advisors (n = 37) and farmers (n = 30) of conventional broiler (n = 13) and layer (n = 13), free-range broiler (n = 8) and layer (n = 10), turkey (n = 13), duck (n = 3) and breeder (n = 7) farms between April and September 2021. The frequency of the implementation of BMs was 66.97% and 81.14% according to the answers provided by the advisors and farmers, respectively, with the breeder sector showing the highest level of implementation (85.71%). "Not knowing advantages" (21.49% for advisors) and "other/specific reasons" (21.49% for advisors and 38.32% for farmers) were the most common answers regarding the lack of implementation of BMs for all poultry sectors. Only 31.09% of farmers acknowledged the effectiveness of not-implemented BMs in contrast to 61.02% of advisors, with the layers' stakeholders being the most aware. The findings of this study may be useful for identifying failures in biosecurity and failures to develop intervention strategies to fulfil the biosecurity gaps still present in Italian poultry farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Laconi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (A.L.); (G.T.)
| | - Giuditta Tilli
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (A.L.); (G.T.)
| | - Francesco Galuppo
- Unità Locale Socio-Sanitaria (ULSS) 6 Euganea, Via Enrico degli Scrovegni 14, 35131 Padua, Italy;
| | - Guido Grilli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy;
| | - Rozenn Souillard
- Epidemiology, Health and Welfare Unit, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, 22440 Ploufragan, France;
| | - Alessandra Piccirillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (A.L.); (G.T.)
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Bucini G, Clark EM, Merrill SC, Langle-Chimal O, Zia A, Koliba C, Cheney N, Wiltshire S, Trinity L, Smith JM. Connecting livestock disease dynamics to human learning and biosecurity decisions. Front Vet Sci 2023; 9:1067364. [PMID: 36744225 PMCID: PMC9896627 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1067364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The acceleration of animal disease spread worldwide due to increased animal, feed, and human movement has driven a growing body of epidemiological research as well as a deeper interest in human behavioral studies aimed at understanding their interconnectedness. Biosecurity measures can reduce the risk of infection, but human risk tolerance can hinder biosecurity investments and compliance. Humans may learn from hardship and become more risk averse, but sometimes they instead become more risk tolerant because they forget negative experiences happened in the past or because they come to believe they are immune. We represent the complexity of the hog production system with disease threats, human decision making, and human risk attitude using an agent-based model. Our objective is to explore the role of risk tolerant behaviors and the consequences of delayed biosecurity investments. We set up experiment with Monte Carlo simulations of scenarios designed with different risk tolerance amongst the swine producers and we derive distributions and trends of biosecurity and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) incidence emerging in the system. The output data allowed us to examine interactions between modes of risk tolerance and timings of biosecurity response discussing consequences for disease protection in the production system. The results show that hasty and delayed biosecurity responses or slow shifts toward a biosecure culture do not guarantee control of contamination when the disease has already spread in the system. In an effort to support effective disease prevention, our model results can inform policy making to move toward more resilient and healthy production systems. The modeled dynamics of risk attitude have also the potential to improve communication strategies for nudging and establishing risk averse behaviors thereby equipping the production system in case of foreign disease incursions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Bucini
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States,Social-Ecological Gaming and Simulation Lab, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States,*Correspondence: Gabriela Bucini ✉
| | - Eric M. Clark
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States,Social-Ecological Gaming and Simulation Lab, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Scott C. Merrill
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States,Social-Ecological Gaming and Simulation Lab, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Ollin Langle-Chimal
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Asim Zia
- Social-Ecological Gaming and Simulation Lab, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States,Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States,Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Christopher Koliba
- Social-Ecological Gaming and Simulation Lab, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States,Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Nick Cheney
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Serge Wiltshire
- Social-Ecological Gaming and Simulation Lab, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States,Food Systems Research Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Luke Trinity
- Social-Ecological Gaming and Simulation Lab, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States,Computational Biology Research and Analytics Lab, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Julia M. Smith
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
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