Mike Bell Extension Agent

Mike BellExtension Agent

Carroll County

Equal Access Programs

2008 Horse World ExpoJanuary 18, 2008

Center for Food Security and Public HealthIowa state University 2006

“The Cough: Terror at Your Gate”

Equine Biological Risk Management

For Horse Owners


Biological Risk Management (BRM)

• Overall process of awareness education, evaluation, and management

• Designed to improve infection/disease control – Foreign and domestic diseases

• Provide tools to minimize risk

Biological Risk Management (BRM)

• Disease risk cannot be totally eliminated– Animal, its environment– Decrease exposure to

disease agents

• Minimize threat to

animals and humans

• No one-size-fits-all answer

Overview

• Importance of BRM

• Risk perception and assessment– Routes of transmission

• Practical management plans

• Increased awareness through communication– Disease introduction and spread

Importance of BRM


Importance of BRM

• Interaction of humans with animals

• Rise in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases

• Importance of the equine economy

• Increasing globalization

Human-Animal Interaction


• 7.1 million people involved in the equine industry– Owners, service providers, employees,

volunteers

• More than 250 potential zoonoses

• Important task– Understand potential health risk


• American population aging• Immunocompromised

population more vulnerable to zoonoses– Young and old– Organ transplant

recipients – Chemotherapy– HIV/AIDS– Diabetes

The Rise in Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases

Do Not Forget Domestic Diseases

• Outbreak of equine herpesvirus-1– University of Findlay

• 118 horses developed fevers

• 45 horses developed neurologic signs

• 14 horses died or were euthanized

• All horses were previously vaccinated against herpesvirus

Equine Industry and Economics

Agriculture and Economics

• 1 in 6 U.S. jobs are ag-related

• 6.9 million horses

• $112.1 billion impact on U.S. Gross Domestic Product

Agriculture and BRM

• Realize the impact on the industry

• Provide employment• Mitigate economic

consequences of a disease outbreak

Global Travel and Commerce


• Increase in personal travel– Increases risk of disease– Spread of foreign

animal disease• Within a food product• On the traveler’s person

• Increase in importation of animals, embryos and semen



References: CDC and APHIS


Reference: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Conducting a BRM Facility Assessment

Components of BRM

• Risk perception• Risk assessment

– Routes of transmission

• Risk management• Risk communication

Risk Perception

• Different perceptions of risk– First identify what is viewed as a threat

• Factors influencing perception– Previous experience – Media– Environment

• Acceptance and tolerance varies

Risk Perception• Common beliefs

– “We have always done it this way”– “I’ve had most everything on this farm”– “It’s too expensive”

• New beliefs– Disease outbreaks can and do happen– Prevention is less costly than treatment– Too much is financially invested to lose– Prevention through awareness

and management

Risk Assessment• Objective evaluation• Questions to identify strengths/weaknesses

– Living documents• A starting point• Change over time

• Disease prediction is complicated– Underlying disease risks are not– Horse’s vulnerability is influenced by:

• Cleanliness, stress, nutrition, other management factors

Routes of Transmission



• Apply to all infectious agents

• Animal must be exposed to develop disease

• Understand different routes of transmission = Gain control

• Risk areas must be identified– Design protocols to minimize exposure


• Spread of disease agents– Animal animal– Animal human

• Different modes of transmission– Aerosol– Oral– Direct contact– Fomite– Vector-borne


• Herpesvirus-1 example

• Complacency with endemic diseases

• Increased awareness – Foreign animal disease– Bioterrorism/agroterrorism attacks

• BRM will help protect against all

Aerosol Transmission

• Disease agents contained in droplets– Pass through air

• Most agents not stable in droplets– Close proximity required– Infected and

susceptible animals

Direct Contact Transmission

• Disease agent in animal or environment– Open wounds, mucous

membranes, skin– Blood, saliva,

nose to nose, rubbing, biting

• Reproductive transmission– Breeding– Dam to offspring

Transmission by Fomite

• Contaminated inanimate object

• Carries agents to other animals– Brushes,

needles

• Traffic– Vehicle, trailer,

humans

Oral Transmission

• Consumption of contaminated feed, water– Feces, urine, saliva – Other contaminants

• Licking/chewing contaminated environment

Vector-borne Transmission

• Insect • Acquires pathogen

from one animal• Transmits to another

animal– Biological vectors

• Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes

– Mechanical vectors• Flies

Environmental Contamination

• Disease organism in environment– Survive in soil, organic material

• Animals and humans can acquire agent through:– Inhalation– Direct contact– Fomites – Oral consumption– Vectors

Disease Transmission

• Animals may not exhibit obvious signs of disease

• Awareness of all routes of transmission is essential– Develop strategy to minimize

disease risk for livestock operation

The Risk Management Plan


Risk Management

• Facility/operation evaluated– Challenges identified

• Tailored management plan

• Prioritize– Easy to implement– Inexpensive yet yield rewards

• No common formula

Risk Management

• Management plan reflects– Immediate challenges– Short-term goals– Long-term goals

• Many possible solutions exist

• Remain open to suggestions– Recommendations vary based on individual’s

experience, knowledge

Risk Communication

• Communication is key!

• Plan must be understood and supported to be effective

• Success of BRM plan depends on:– How plan is carried out– Who is responsible for changes– Incorporation into daily activities

Risk Communication

• Risk assessment designed to be all-inclusive communication tool– Feedback can be provided rapidly– Expedites awareness process– Handouts

• Disinfection• Routes of transmission

Conclusion


Key Learning Objectives

• Biological risk management is important

• Risk perception and acceptance differ between people

• Disease risk can be managed

• Awareness education is essential

• You play a critical role!

Center for Food Security and Public Health

Iowa state University 2006

Conclusion

“Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish

your principle and go to work.”

-H.L. Hunt

Acknowledgments

Development of this presentation was funded by a grant from the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention to the Center for Food Security and Public

Health at Iowa State University.

Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa state University 2006

Authors:

Reviewers:

SpecialThanks to:

Carrie Hammer, DVM, PhDStacy Holzbauer, DVMDanelle Bickett-Weddle, DVM, MPH

Jim Roth, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVM

Roberta Dwyer, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVPMTom Lenz, DVM, MS, Christine Woodford, DVM, MS


Acknowledgments

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Mike Bell Extension Agent