Abstract
The objectives of this study were to investigate current biosecurity practices on Swedish poultry farms, and to identify risk factors associated with outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). A case-control study design was employed, where case farms had confirmed HPAI outbreaks in 2020 or 2021. Control farms, matched by poultry category, were randomly selected within a 10 km radius of an outbreak. Farms included were required to house more than 2,000 laying hens, layer pullets, broiler, meat turkeys, or parent-breeding flocks. Data on biosecurity practices and potential risk factors were collected through on-farm observations and structured face-to-face interviews with farmers or farm workers. The questions and observations were based on a tailored questionnaire addressing HPAI epidemiology, and the Biocheck.UGent™ biosecurity scoring tool. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed in R using Akaike information criterion (AIC) for model selection.
Forty-eight farms participated in the study, of which 15 were cases and 33 controls.
Significant variation in biosecurity practices were observed. Weak points in biosecurity that were common were: suboptimal hand hygiene routines, farm workers lacking training in biosecurity, no designated clean areas on outdoor surfaces, suboptimal anteroom layout, and lack of farm-specific biosecurity plan. In the multivariable analysis, the following variables were associated with higher risk of HPAI outbreaks: “ducks, geese or swans noted within 500 m from poultry house”, “straw, hay or roughage provided to poultry”, and “number of poultry houses on the farm”.
The results will be used to guide targeted preventive measures and refine biosecurity recommendations.
Forty-eight farms participated in the study, of which 15 were cases and 33 controls.
Significant variation in biosecurity practices were observed. Weak points in biosecurity that were common were: suboptimal hand hygiene routines, farm workers lacking training in biosecurity, no designated clean areas on outdoor surfaces, suboptimal anteroom layout, and lack of farm-specific biosecurity plan. In the multivariable analysis, the following variables were associated with higher risk of HPAI outbreaks: “ducks, geese or swans noted within 500 m from poultry house”, “straw, hay or roughage provided to poultry”, and “number of poultry houses on the farm”.
The results will be used to guide targeted preventive measures and refine biosecurity recommendations.
Co-Author(s)
Malin Grant, Swedish Veterinary Agency and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,
Désirée S. Jansson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Arianna Comin, Swedish Veterinary Agency
Magdalena Jacobson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Maria Nöremark, Swedish Veterinary Agency
Abstract Category
Biosecurity, mitigation, control, and post-epidemic considerations in poultry