1. A veterinarian discusses biosecurity procedures for suspected cases of contagious respiratory disease in horses, including establishing primary and secondary perimeters, regulating horse and human movement, increasing disease surveillance, and communicating with relevant parties.
2. Key steps include stopping horse movement, limiting access, implementing biosecurity guidelines, increasing testing and monitoring, and communicating information to veterinarians, owners, facilities, and regulatory agencies.
3. The goal is to prevent the spread of disease until it can be properly diagnosed and addressed according to disease-specific guidelines.
Biosecurity protocols for infectious respiratory disease
1. Biosecurity in the practice
Olivier Simon, DMV, Dip ECVS
The University of Adelaide – EH&PC
2. Lockout issue EH&PC 2017
• November 2017
– One foal with suspected EHV1 infection
• Confirmed at post-mortem
– Two consequent foals with similar symptoms from
same stud farm
– Delay is result collection !!!!
3. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
• Possible primary diagnoses for respiratory
disease with herd health implications:
– Equine Herpes virus-1 (EHV-1)
– Equine Herpes virus-4 (EHV-4)
– Streptococcus equi equi (strangles)
– Hendra virus (emerging)
– Equine influenza (EI) (exotic)
– Equine viral arteritis (EVA) (exotic)
7. Suspected case of infectious
respiratory disease
Establish biosecurity
perimeter
Communicate plan Attempt diagnosis
Identify primary
perimeter
Identify secondary
perimeter
Increase disease
surveillance
Regulate horse
movement
Implement primary
perimeter
Stop horse
movement
Limit human
movement
Biosecurity
Guidelines
Veterinarians
Horsemen
Regulatory agencies
media
Related industry
affiliates
Event management
Sample collection
tests
Laboratory selection
Testing applies
Sample handling
Sample transport
No diagnosis
Maintain biosecurity
21-28 days after last case
Expand differential
diagnoses
Consult infectious
disease expert
Diagnosis
Disease specific guidelines
Equine Herpes virus-1
Influenza
Strep equi
Equine viral arteritisAAEP 2006
8. Problematic
• 4 inpatient potentially but not surely
contaminated
• Hazard for any new in- or out-patient
9. Precaution
• Preventive Lockout
• Isolate inpatients
• Collect samples and receive results in timely
manner to maintain or relieve quarantine
status
11. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
• Clinical signs
– Fever
– Cough
– Swollen or discharging lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
– Abnormal nasal discharge
– Abnormal respiratory sounds
– Urticaria, limb edema
• Fever presenting alone should be considered as
suspected contagious respiratory disease
• Absence of fever, in the presence of respiratory clinical
signs, does not rule out contagious infectious disease
12. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
• Possible primary diagnoses for respiratory
disease with herd health implications:
– Equine Herpes virus-1 (EHV-1)
– Equine Herpes virus-4 (EHV-4)
– Streptococcus equi equi (strangles)
– Hendra virus (emerging)
– Equine influenza (EI) (exotic)
– Equine viral arteritis (EVA) (exotic)
13. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
1. Establish a primary biosecurity perimeter
– Centered on the location of the contagious
respiratory disease case(s)
– Extended until a clearly defined physical barrier to
further spread of infection is identified
– May encompass the entire equine facility
14. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
1. Establish a primary biosecurity perimeter
– If site design permits, the perimeter may contain
only part of the equine facility
– Include the isolation facility if one exists
– Signs are used to identify the perimeter & control
access
15. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
• The primary perimeter contains all suspected infected
animals & animals in immediate contact with them
– Aerosols may spread effectively over distances up to 50 m
– Common air space of stables may mean that all horses in that
stable may be infected
• All animals within the primary perimeter
– Considered infected & contagious until outbreak is over
– Are prohibited from exiting the primary perimeter
– If the affected horse was moved to isolation, a primary
biosecurity perimeter must be maintained around the barn from
which the affected horse originated
• Biosecurity measures are implemented to prevent
infectious agents leaving the area (people, fomites)
16. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
• Until proven otherwise, respond to ‘worst-case’
scenario(s):
– Steptococcus equi (indirect transmission – fomites)
– Hendra virus (fruit bats)
– EI (direct transmission – aerosol; indirect – fomites)
• Prevent new introductions to the property
17. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
2. Implement/enforce the primary biosecurity perimeter
• Stop horse movement
– Affected horses should be confined to their stalls or
dedicated isolation facility
– Clinically unaffected horses are confined within the primary
perimeter & managed to minimise spread of the infectious
agent
• Disease surveillance
– Record rectal temperatures twice daily
– Physical inspection for clinical signs
18. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
2. Implement/enforce the primary biosecurity perimeter
• Limit human movement
– Access is limited to essential personnel only:
veterinarians/technicians/caretakers
– All personnel follow biosecurity protocols
– May require security personnel at perimeter access
points
• Biosecurity protocols
19. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
3.1 Communication – event management
• Physical plant modification instructions
– Barriers – designation & establishment of physical perimeter
• Biosecurity guidelines
– Disinfection instructions
• During outbreak
• Before restocking facility with healthy horses
– Waste removal
– Vermin control
• Personnel management
– Requirements
– Instructions
– Notification of zoonotic risk (if present)
• Outbreak updates
20. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
3.2 Communication – veterinarians/workers
• Instructions – disease surveillance, testing &
reporting
• Biosecurity guidelines
• Health requirements – entrance into or exit out
of facility
• Outbreak updates
21. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
3.3 Communication – horse owners/workers
• Disease information for horsemen & owners
• Biosecurity guidelines
• Human exposure/zoonotic risk management
• Instructions for grooms
• Outbreak updates
• Requirements for equine entrance into/exit out
of facility
22. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
4. Regulatory agencies
• Disease notification
– Veterinarians are aware of currently reportable diseases
– State & federal veterinarians are useful resources
during outbreaks of non-reportable infectious disease
• Outbreak updates
5. Media
• Dissemination of information to horse owning
people & related industry workers/members
23. Suspected case of contagious
infectious respiratory disease
6. Related industries
• Provide information that assists in risk
management & determination of risk aversion
– E.g. outbreak updates, biosecurity measures
implemented
24. Suspected case of infectious
respiratory disease
Establish biosecurity
perimeter
Communicate plan Attempt diagnosis
Identify primary
perimeter
Identify secondary
perimeter
Increase disease
surveillance
Regulate horse
movement
Implement primary
perimeter
Stop horse
movement
Limit human
movement
Biosecurity
Guidelines
Veterinarians
Horsemen
Regulatory agencies
media
Related industry
affiliates
Event management
Sample collection
tests
Laboratory selection
Testing applies
Sample handling
Sample transport
No diagnosis
Maintain biosecurity
21-28 days after last case
Expand differential
diagnoses
Consult infectious
disease expert
Diagnosis
Disease specific guidelines
Equine Herpes virus-1
Influenza
Strep equi
Equine viral arteritisAAEP 2006
25. Take home message
• Have or implement a biosecurity plan for your
facilities and taylored to your activities
• Your attending veterinarian is your best
contact to get advise or relay with specialists
(EH&PC)