Understanding the associations between on-farm biosecurity practice and equine influenza infection during the 2007 outbreak in Australia.
Abstract: In a previous premises-level case-control study of the 2007 equine influenza outbreak in Australia, the protective effect of several variables representing on-farm biosecurity practices was identified. However, using logistic regression it was not possible to definitively identify individual effects and associations between each of the personal biosecurity measures implemented by horse premises owners and managers in the face of the outbreak. In this study we apply Bayesian network modelling to identify the complex web of associations between these variables, horse premises infection status and other premises-level covariates. We focussed this analysis primarily on the inter-relationship between the nine variables representing on-farm personal biosecurity measures (of people residing on the premises and those visiting), and all other variables from the final logistic regression model of our previous analysis. Exact structure discovery was used to identify the globally optimal model from across the landscape of all directed acyclic graphs possible for our dataset. Bootstrapping was used to adjust the model for over-fitting. Our final Bayesian graphic network model included 18 variables linked by 23 arcs, each arc analogous to a single multivariable generalised linear model, combined in a probabilistically coherent way. Amongst the personal biosecurity measures, having a footbath in place, certain practices of visitors (hand-washing, changing clothes and shoes) in contact with the horses, and the regularity of horse handling were statistically associated with premises infection status. The results of this in-depth analysis provide new insight into the complex web of direct and indirect associations between risk factors and horse premises infection status during the first 7 weeks of the 2007 equine influenza outbreak in Australia. In future outbreaks, unnecessary contact and handling of horses should be avoided, especially by those coming from off the premises. Prior to any such contact, persons handling horses should use a footbath (if present), change their clothes and shoes, and wash their hands.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2013-03-06 PubMed ID: 23473854DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.02.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigated the link between on-farm biosecurity measures and the equine influenza outbreak in Australia in 2007, using Bayesian network modelling to further explore this relationship. It found that certain biosecurity practices – such as the presence of a footbath, hand washing and clothing changes by visitors, and the regularity of horse handling – were associated with an infection status on horse premises.
Objective of the Research
- This study aimed to reveal the associations between on-farm biosecurity practices and the spread of equine influenza during the 2007 outbreak in Australia. A previous study had identified a protective effect of several biosecurity variables, but it couldn’t definitively determine the individual influences or associations of personal biosecurity measures implemented by horse premises owners.
Methodology
- The researchers employed Bayesian network modelling – a statistical model that represents a set of variables and their conditional dependencies – in this study to identify the complicated web of relationships between those variables, horse premises infection status, and other premises-level covariates.
- They focused on the relationship between nine variables representing on-farm personal biosecurity measures (of people residing on the premises and those visiting), and other variables from their previous logistic regression analysis.
- They used exact structure discovery to identify the most effective model from all potential directed acyclic graphs for their data set. Bootstrapping adjusted the model for over-fitting and the final Bayesian model included 18 variables connected by 23 arcs, each arc analogous to a single multivariable generalised linear model, combined in a probabilistically coherent way.
Key Findings
- The analysis found that certain biosecurity measures were significantly associated with premises infection status. These included having a footbath, practices such as hand-washing and changing clothes/shoes by visitors to the horses, and the frequency of horse handling.
- These findings suggest direct and indirect associations between these factors and the infection status of horse premises during the first seven weeks of the 2007 equine influenza outbreak.
Implications
- The study’s results offer insights into personal biosecurity measures that can help manage the spread of equine influenza. To mitigate future outbreaks, unnecessary contact and handling of horses should be avoided, especially by those visiting from off the premises.
- Prior to any contact with horses, handlers should use a footbath (if available), change their clothes and shoes, and wash their hands.
Cite This Article
APA
Firestone SM, Lewis FI, Schemann K, Ward MP, Toribio JA, Dhand NK.
(2013).
Understanding the associations between on-farm biosecurity practice and equine influenza infection during the 2007 outbreak in Australia.
Prev Vet Med, 110(1), 28-36.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.02.003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, 425 Werombi Road, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia. simon.firestone@unimelb.edu.au
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry / methods
- Animals
- Attitude to Health
- Australia
- Bayes Theorem
- Case-Control Studies
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / physiology
- Linear Models
- Logistic Models
- Models, Biological
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
- Risk Factors
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Rossi TM, Moore A, O'Sullivan TL, Greer AL. Equine Rhinitis A Virus Infection at a Standardbred Training Facility: Incidence, Clinical Signs, and Risk Factors for Clinical Disease.. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:71.
- Wolff C, Boqvist S, Ståhl K, Masembe C, Sternberg-Lewerin S. Biosecurity aspects of cattle production in Western Uganda, and associations with seroprevalence of brucellosis, salmonellosis and bovine viral diarrhoea.. BMC Vet Res 2017 Dec 6;13(1):382.
- Kuster K, Cousin ME, Jemmi T, Schüpbach-Regula G, Magouras I. Expert Opinion on the Perceived Effectiveness and Importance of On-Farm Biosecurity Measures for Cattle and Swine Farms in Switzerland.. PLoS One 2015;10(12):e0144533.
- Gregers-Jensen L, Agger JF, Hammer AS, Andresen L, Chrièl M, Hagberg E, Jensen MK, Hansen MS, Hjulsager CK, Struve T. Associations between biosecurity and outbreaks of canine distemper on Danish mink farms in 2012-2013.. Acta Vet Scand 2015 Sep 30;57:66.
- Nöremark M, Sternberg-Lewerin S. On-farm biosecurity as perceived by professionals visiting Swedish farms.. Acta Vet Scand 2014 May 9;56(1):28.
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