Study highlights concerns over horse biosecurity in NZ
Research has revealed worrying shortcomings inwards the biosecurity practices of non-commercial Equus caballus owners inwards New Zealand.
Researchers at Massey University reached the decision based on analysis of results from a 2009 postal survey of New Zealand Equus caballus owners.
Their study, published inwards the mag “Preventive Veterinary Medicine”, flora that few of the biosecurity practices implemented on non-commercial Equus caballus properties would protect against infectious diseases.
They described baseline biosecurity on non-commercial Equus caballus properties inwards the province every bit miserable in addition to inwards take away of improvement to survive effective against endemic in addition to exotic diseases.
The researchers, led past times Dr Sarah Rosanowski, conducted the survey to explore biosecurity practices on non-commercial Equus caballus properties, to become information on the issue of visits past times Equus caballus professionals, in addition to whatever practices that visitors were required to follow earlier having contact amongst the resident horses.
In sum at that spot were 791 respondents, of which 83 per cent answered at to the lowest degree i query relating to biosecurity practices.
Of the respondents, 95 per cent had at to the lowest degree i biosecurity exercise for arriving horses.
“Only 31 per cent of properties isolated horses for to a greater extent than than 4 days, in addition to few respondents checked for pyrexia [fever] or other clinical signs of infectious affliction inwards novel horses,” the researchers wrote.
“Overall, 79 per cent of properties had Equus caballus professionals visit, exactly alone 33 per cent of respondents reported having biosecurity arrangements for these visitors.
“Most properties had around cognition most newly arriving horses, exactly the effectiveness of these practices for biosecurity were questionable, every bit few practices would halt affliction spread to resident horses,” they wrote.
The authors noted Equus caballus professionals were probable candidates for affliction spread due to their regular contact amongst horses, the express biosecurity arrangements required past times Equus caballus owners, in addition to the frequency of visits.
They recommended evolution of a excogitation to amend biosecurity for endemic in addition to exotic diseases.
The researchers noted that many respondents had around biosecurity practices relating to the arrival of novel horses, which varied widely.
“While most respondents knew the beginning in addition to veterinary history of arriving horses, few physically examined novel horses for the clinical signs of infectious disease.
“However, physical examinations for infectious affliction would survive ineffective every bit a biosecurity strategy, without the add-on of isolating newly arriving horses,” they said.
Three-quarters of respondents were flora to isolate horses on arrival, amongst 31 per cent of properties isolating horses for to a greater extent than than 4 days.
The authors noted that the survey was undertaken later the highly publicised equine flu outbreak inwards Commonwealth of Australia inwards 2007.
The researchers had wondered whether New Zealand Equus caballus owners had developed greater awareness every bit a outcome of that outbreak, exactly the evidence did non propose it.
“Due to the depression marking of biosecurity identified inwards the electrical flow survey, at that spot does non appear to survive evidence for heightened awareness, unless the marking of biosecurity skilful was fifty-fifty lower earlier the equine flu outbreak.”
Even though most properties reported Equus caballus professionals visiting, 69 per cent of them did non cause got biosecurity protocols for them. This could facilitate affliction spread betwixt properties, the authors warned.
“The importance of Equus caballus professionals inwards facilitating affliction spread is exacerbated past times the frequency that these individuals are visiting properties.
“Horse wellness professionals, farriers, equine dentists in addition to veterinarians, pass fourth dimension inwards unopen proximity to horses when they view properties to interact amongst horses, in addition to these professionals would view many horses on multiple properties each day.”
The study flora that horses were kept for contest on xl per cent of non-commercial Equus caballus properties inwards New Zealand, in addition to properties that kept horses for contest had to a greater extent than Equus caballus movements than others.
“However, the electrical flow study did non investigate whether biosecurity practices were applied to resident horses returning to the belongings later competing. Instead, the electrical flow study focused on biosecurity practices for newly arriving horses.
“Therefore, it cannot survive concluded from the electrical flow study that effective biosecurity strategies, similar isolation, are beingness applied to returning resident horses inwards the same mode every bit newly arriving horses, on properties that reported the campaign of horses.”
They continued: “At the electrical flow time, at that spot are no plans to amend biosecurity practices to command disease, although based on the findings of the electrical flow study, the evolution of a strategy to amend biosecurity practices is recommended.
“It is non known whether the lack of biosecurity practices is due to a cognition gap most the importance of biosecurity or how to implement biosecurity practices, or whether Equus caballus belongings owners are aware of the importance of biosecurity, exactly direct non to implement effective practices.”
It suggested that a targeted teaching programme most biosecurity aimed at farriers, veterinarians in addition to equine dentists powerfulness testify effective inwards cutting their disease-spread potential.
“Additionally, the identification of properties that displace horses – a high-risk activeness inwards damage of affliction spread – enables this grouping to survive targeted through attendance at equine events, especially competitions.”
Rosanowski, S.M., et al., The implementation of biosecurity practices in addition to visitor protocols on non-commercial Equus caballus properties inwards New Zealand. PREVET (2012), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2012.05.001
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