Biosecurity

Question 1

Immediate response to biosecurity

Answer 1

• Assess situation
• Outbreak
• Contagious
• Presumptive vs definitive diagnosis
• Minimize exposure
• Contain spread of infection (NO MOVEMENT)
• Treat affected horses

Question 2

Risk assessment

Answer 2

• New horses related

- Current movement of hroses

Question 3

Biosecurity

Answer 3

• Actions taken to prevent introduction and dissemination of infectious agents within a population/facility

Question 4

What are important steps to take when dealing with an outbreak?

Answer 4

• Stop all horse movement
• Isolate sick horses: fast but planned
• Evaluate all horses: Don’t be the fomite!
• Good biosecurity is key
• Establish biosecurity perimeters

Question 5

Primary perimeter

Answer 5

• All suspected infected animals
• All animals in immediate contact
• No movement

Question 6

Secondary perimeter

Answer 6

• Animals free from infection but at risk
• Closely monitored
• May be moved after clearance

Question 7

Tracking movement of exposed horses

Answer 7

• e.g. Outpatients
• e.g. Discharged horses
• e.g. teaching horses

Keep good records!

Question 8

Isolation

Answer 8

• Location: isolation unit vs stall vs area
• Label the area
• Consider ventilation, drainage
• Waste disposal plan
• Dedicated equipment
• Eliminate horse to horse contact
• No communal water/feeding sources (e.g. the HOSE!)
• Owner/personnel movement
• Other animals (Pest control)

Question 9

Feeding and bedding with isolated horses

Answer 9

• make sure you are careful because the carts can be fomites too
• They have to transfer to another cart that goes to isolation

Question 10

Personnel for isolation

Answer 10

• Must be trained
• Dedicated if possible
• Protective clothing
• Change clothing between patients
• Go from the unexposed population first to the potentially exposed to the clinical signs presenting

Question 11

Hand hygiene

Answer 11

• Super important

Question 12

Where do you want footbaths?

Answer 12

• All perimeter access/exit points

Question 13

Agents for footbaths

Answer 13

• Virkon and Accel which are oxidizing agents
• Fairly broad spectrum and safe
• Can be corrosive to metal

Question 14

What’s important for environmental hygiene?

Answer 14

• Cleaning and disinfection protocols
• Easier: non-porous surfaces
• Consistent
• Training is key
• Make it easy

Question 15

Communication considerations

Answer 15

• Owner, barn manager, employees
• Plan moving forward
• Reportable disease? (Get in touch with the state vet)
• Media interest?

Question 16

Communication education

Answer 16

• Hand washing, cleaning, disinfection, zoonotic risk, treatment, etc.

Question 17

Disease respones

Answer 17

• Confirm your diagnosis

- Initiate treatment

Question 18

Steps for new additions

Answer 18

• Quarantine new arrivals
• Require specific testing
• Require specific vaccinations

Question 19

How long to quarantine new arrivals? What to do when you get new arrivals?

Answer 19

• 28 days (at least 2 weeks)

- Physical exams, history

Question 20

What testing is required for new additions?

Answer 20

• Regional variabilities

- EIA, nasopharyngeal wash for Strep equi, etc.

Question 21

Specific vaccinations

Answer 21

• Population

- Based on activities

Question 22

Patient monitoring surveillance

Answer 22

• Global testing of all animals
• $$$$$
• e.g. MRSA nasal passage monitoring
• This is expensive; often targeted testing is preferred

Question 23

Targeted testing

Answer 23

• Identify patients at risk
• e.g. Diarrhea + leukopenia + fever test for Salmonella or if swollen retropharyngeal lymph nodes immediately take to the back regardless of cause

Question 24

Environmental monitoring

Answer 24

• Quality of cleaning and disinfection
• Routine program
• less expensive
• Salmonella enterica

Question 25

Owner recommendations for horse shows and events

Answer 25

• Don’t mix horses for shipment
• Avoid nose-nose contact
• Don’t share equipment
• Avoid communal areas: Grazing, wash racks
• Wash hands after touching other horses
• Don’t let strangers pet your horse

Question 26

Caveats for infectious agents

Answer 26

• They circulate constantly
• Any gathering of horses is a risk
• Goal is to minimize risks
• No such thing as a “foolproof” infection control plan for horses