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Evaluation des mesures de biosécurité dans les fermes avicoles au Québec par vidéosurveillance et principales erreurs commises
Abstract
Evaluation of biosecurity measures based on video surveillance in poultry farms in Quebec and main failures.
Biosecurity measures are designed to prevent the introduction of infectious diseases in flocks, and reduce the consequences of an infection. However, to be effective, biosecurity measures must be applied consistently by all. Poor compliance has been reported with all types of animal production, and many reasons have been given, such as the lack of understanding of biosecurity principles. It is essential to define strategies to improve the implementation of biosecurity measures. Different approaches have been studied in human medicine, mainly in hospital settings. They include daily observations and feedback to employees, training programs, the presence of an observer, and the increased availability of hand washing stations. These strategies have been shown to work, but only for the short term. We are currently conducting a study in 24 poultry farms in Quebec to determine the impact of audits and of visible cameras on the level of biosecurity compliance. The effect of these two strategies will be determined in the short term (2 weeks) and in the medium term (six months later). The targeted biosecurity measures are those required when getting in and out of poultry barns. The compliance is evaluated using hidden cameras. People filmed during the study will then be asked to complete a questionnaire designed to assess their personality profile. The first objective of the study is to determine whether audits or visible cameras increase biosecurity compliance. The second objective is to determine whether a relationship exists between personality profiles and compliance. Preliminary results from 13 farms show that poor compliance is indeed a present-day problem.
... The rationale of the contrast is that, besides the constraints related to the high cost and scarcity of fish feed on the market, fish are subject to multiple diseases capable of destroying the entire production on the farm. The main cause of disease outbreaks on a farm is failure to comply with biosafety measures (Racicot and Vaillancourt, 2009). FAO (2007) defines biosecurity as a strategic and integrated approach that encompasses policy and regulatory frameworks to analyze and manage risks relevant to human, animal, and plant life and health, including associated environmental risks. ...
... The compliance rate (CR) and adoption rate (AR) of biosecurity measures were calculated (Racicot and Vaillancourt, 2009). ...
... The ranking of the compliance rate (Low, intermediate, high) used by Racicot and Vaillancourt (2009) was applied to the adoption rate to classify fish farms (Table 1). ...
In order to optimize the fish production by a better knowledge of preventive measures against fish diseases, a cross-sectional audit was carried out in Cameroon from March to April 2022 on the zootechnical factors affecting the biosecurity practice in fish farms from the Centre Region (3°55'- 4°67'N; 9°46-11°52'E). A total of 50 farms were selected using the "snowball" method, face-to-face interview of fish farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire and direct observation. The most practiced farming system was the semi-intensive production system (74%), non-integrated fish farming (100%), grow-out (66%), monoculture (54%), and the soil system (34% of farms with ponds). The compliance rate (40.98%) and adoption rate (41.00%) of biosecurity measures (BM) was intermediate. The most adopted BM were "sanitary lock" and "no exchange of materials with other farms", while the least adopted were "veterinary intervention", "dead fish incinerated" and "special outfit for visitors". The BM were significantly more observed in intensive, nursery farms and those whose culture facilities were fastanks + concrete tanks with 3 to 12 production cycles per year. A strong, positive and significant linear relationship was established between the compliance rate (y) and BM such as the protection of farms from wild animals, quarantine of new fish, number of production cycles per year (x). The linear regression model between y and x was y = 4.65x - 0.0417. The capacity of fish farmers should be built on biosecurity practices. Key words: Biosecurity practice, diseases, mortality, fish, Cameroon
... Au Cameroun, entre Avril et Mai 2021, une épizootie de yersiniose (Yersinia sp) chez Oreochromis niloticus et Cyprinus carpio a engendré des pertes d'environ 420.50 USD dans un élevage de la Région du Centre-Cameroun [1]. Le nonrespect des mesures de biosécurité contre les agents pathogènes ont été souvent à l'origine de l'apparition des mortalités massives des poissons plus particulièrement dans les écloseries [2,4]. La biosécurité est une approche stratégique et intégrée qui englobe des cadres politiques et réglementaires visant à analyser et à gérer les risques liés à la vie et à la santé humaine, animale et végétale, y compris les risques environnementaux associés [5]. ...
... Le propriétaire de la ferme choisie a été prié d'indiquer la localisation géographique des autres fermes voisines jusqu'à ce que l'ensemble de la zone soit couverte [8]. Les critères d'éligibilité des fermes piscicoles ont été ceux indiqués par Racicot et Vaillancourt [4]. Il s'est agi des coûts de transport, l'accessibilité routière, la proximité de la ferme à la route, l'état fonctionnel de la ferme et la disponibilité du responsable de la ferme à participer à l'étude. ...
... Le taux d'observance (TO) et taux d'adoption (TA) des mesures de biosécurité ont été définis selon Racicot et Vaillancourt (2009) et calculés ainsi qu'il suit : TO = Nma/Nmrx 100 ; TA = Nfa/N x100 où Nma: Nombre de mesures appliquées par une ferme ou score de la ferme ; Nmr: Nombre total de mesures recommandées ; Nfa : Nombre de fermes appliquant une mesure de biosécurité donnée (score total de la mesure) ; N : Nombre total de fermes auditées. La classification des taux d'observance (faible, intermédiaire, élevé) proposée par Racicot et Vaillancourt [4] a été aussi appliquée au taux d'adoption des mesures de biosécurité et adaptée à la présente étude à l'effet de déterminer la typologie des fermes piscicoles dans le Département de la Mvila (Tableau 1). ...
The aim of the present study is to contribute to the improvement of fish production through better practice of disease prevention measures. A biosecurity audit was carried out from March to May 2023 on 40 farms in the Mvila Division (2°48' 272" - 2°48' 993" N; 10°55' 066" - 10°56' 078" E), Southern Region of Cameroon. Semi-structured interviews and direct observation were used to collect data on socio-economic, zootechnical characteristics and biosecurity practice. The main results showed that, overall, the compliance rate (34.58%) and adoption rate (34.48%) of biosecurity measures were intermediate. Training received in fish farming and constraints associated with biosecurity practices, the production system, the production phase, culture facilities and disease diagnosis significantly affected the compliance rate. In addition, compliance with biosecurity measures significantly reduced fish mortality rates. A strong, positive and significant regression was established between the training received in fish farming and the biosecurity compliance rate, while constraints related to biosecurity practices were strongly, negatively and significantly associated with the compliance rate. The government must focus on training and capacity building of fish farmers in biosecurity.
... Au Cameroun, entre Avril et Mai 2021, une épizootie de yersiniose (Yersinia sp) chez Oreochromis niloticus et Cyprinus carpio a engendré des pertes d'environ 420.50 USD dans un élevage de la Région du Centre-Cameroun [1]. Le nonrespect des mesures de biosécurité contre les agents pathogènes ont été souvent à l'origine de l'apparition des mortalités massives des poissons plus particulièrement dans les écloseries [2,4]. La biosécurité est une approche stratégique et intégrée qui englobe des cadres politiques et réglementaires visant à analyser et à gérer les risques liés à la vie et à la santé humaine, animale et végétale, y compris les risques environnementaux associés [5]. ...
... Le propriétaire de la ferme choisie a été prié d'indiquer la localisation géographique des autres fermes voisines jusqu'à ce que l'ensemble de la zone soit couverte [8]. Les critères d'éligibilité des fermes piscicoles ont été ceux indiqués par Racicot et Vaillancourt [4]. Il s'est agi des coûts de transport, l'accessibilité routière, la proximité de la ferme à la route, l'état fonctionnel de la ferme et la disponibilité du responsable de la ferme à participer à l'étude. ...
... Le taux d'observance (TO) et taux d'adoption (TA) des mesures de biosécurité ont été définis selon Racicot et Vaillancourt (2009) et calculés ainsi qu'il suit : TO = Nma/Nmrx 100 ; TA = Nfa/N x100 où Nma: Nombre de mesures appliquées par une ferme ou score de la ferme ; Nmr: Nombre total de mesures recommandées ; Nfa : Nombre de fermes appliquant une mesure de biosécurité donnée (score total de la mesure) ; N : Nombre total de fermes auditées. La classification des taux d'observance (faible, intermédiaire, élevé) proposée par Racicot et Vaillancourt [4] a été aussi appliquée au taux d'adoption des mesures de biosécurité et adaptée à la présente étude à l'effet de déterminer la typologie des fermes piscicoles dans le Département de la Mvila (Tableau 1). ...
L'objectif de la présente étude est de contribuer à l'amélioration de la production piscicole par une meilleure pratique des mesures de prévention des maladies. Un audit biosécuritaire a été effectué de mars à mai 2023 dans 40 fermes du Département de la Mvila (2°48' 272"-2°48' 993" N ; 10°55' 066"-10°56' 078" E), Région du Sud-Cameroun L'interview semi-structurée et l'observation directe ont permis de collecter les données relatives aux caractéristiques socio-économiques et zootechniques et à la pratique de biosécurité. Les principaux résultats ont montré que, globalement, le taux global d'observance (34,58%) et d'adoption (34,48%) des mesures de biosécurité a été intermédiaire. La formation réçue en pisciculture et les contraintes liées aux pratiques de biosécurité, le système de production, la phase de production l'infrastructure d'élevage et le diagnostic des maladies ont affecté significativement le taux d'observance. En outre, l'observance des mesures de biosécurité a diminué significativement le taux de mortalité des poissons. Une régression forte, positive et significative a été établie entre la formation reçue en pisciculture et le taux d'observance biosécuritaire tandis que les contraintes liées aux pratiques de biosecurité ont été fortement, négativement et significativemen associées au taux d'observance. Le gouvernement doit accentuer sur la formation et le renforcement des capacités des pisciculteurs en matière de biosécurité. Abstract The aim of the present study is to contribute to the improvement of fish production through better practice of disease prevention measures. A biosecurity audit was carried out from March to May 2023 on 40 farms in the Mvila Division (2°48' 272"-2°48' 993" N; 10°55' 066"-10°56' 078" E), Southern Region of Cameroon. Semi-structured interviews and direct observation were used to collect data on socioeconomic , zootechnical characteristics and biosecurity practice. The main results showed that, overall, the compliance rate (34.58%) and adoption rate (34.48%) of biosecurity measures were intermediate. Training received in fish farming and constraints associated with biosecurity practices, the production system, the production phase, culture facilities and disease diagnosis significantly affected the compliance rate. In addition, compliance with biosecurity measures significantly reduced fish mortality rates. A strong, positive and significant regression was established between the training received in fish farming and the biosecurity compliance rate, while constraints related to biosecurity practices were strongly, negatively and significantly associated with the compliance rate. The government must focus on training and capacity building of fish farmers in biosecurity.
... In addition, between April and May 2021, they recorded an epizootic of Yersiniosis (Yersinia sp) in farmed Oreochromis niloticus and Cyprinus carpio causing losses of around US$420.50 in the Centre Region of Cameroon. These diseases are generally attributable to fish inbreeding, poor disease risk management or failure by fish farmers to comply with biosecurity or hygiene measures (Racicot and Vaillancourt, 2009;Fonkwa et al., 2023b). Once the disease appears, its treatment becomes technically and financially constraining, hence the need to focus on prevention through rigorous compliance with biosecurity measures (Fonkwa et al., 2023b). ...
... The compliance rate of biosecurity measures was defined after Racicot and Vaillancourt (2009). The biosecurity measures were weighted equally because the main interest was how implementing biosecurity measures influence the health of reared fish and not the level of risk caused by the lack of implementing a biosecurity measure as it is the case in disease transmission pathways. ...
... Outre ces contraintes, s'ajoutent les risques potentiels liés au non-respect des mesures de biosécurité dans les élevages aquacoles (Racicot et Vaillancourt, 2009). La biosécurité est la gestion des risques pour prévenir l'exposition, l'introduction, la transmission et la propagation des maladies dans les élevages. ...
... A cet effet, le responsable de la ferme précédemment auditée a été prié de faciliter l'évolution de l'enquête en indiquant la position géographique d'une autre ferme et ainsi de suite jusqu'à ce que l'ensemble de la zone soit couverte (Thierry, 2009). Les critères d'éligibilité des fermes piscicoles ont été l'accessibilité, la distance par rapport à la route principale, le temps de marche jusqu'aux fermes, le coût du transport, la période de récolte des poissons et la volonté de participation des pisciculteurs au sondage (Racicot et Vaillancourt, 2009). ...
Les pathologies figurent parmi les facteurs de perte de production dans les élevages piscicoles d'où la nécessité de l'observance des mesures de biosécurité. L'objectif de la présente étude était d'évaluer la pratique biosécuritaire et les déterminants socio-démogra-phiques et technico-économiques dans les élevages piscicoles de la région du Centre-Cameroun afin de contribuer à l'amélioration de leur productivité. Ainsi, 50 fermes ont été identifiées et auditées de mars à avril 2022 moyennant la méthode "boule de neige", l'interview face-à-face des pisciculteurs à l'aide d'un questionnaire semi-structuré et l'observation directe. Les résultats ont globa-lement montré des taux d'observance (TO) et d'adoption (TA) respectifs de 41,0 %. Aucun élevage n'a enregistré un TO > 75%. L'âge des pisciculteurs, le niveau d'étude, la formation en pisciculture, le coût et les contraintes liées à la pratique de biosécurité ont significativement affecté les taux d'observance. La composante gestion des mouvements (68,7%) a été significativement la plus observée suivie de l'isolement (48,6%) et l'assainissement (31,3%). La régression linéaire multivariée a été forte, positive et significative entre le taux d'observance, l'objectif de l'élevage et le lieu de formation. En revanche, elle a été faible, négative et significative entre le taux d'observance et le statut sanitaire des poissons. Les parties prenantes du secteur aquacole doivent davan-tage s'impliquer dans la biosécurité afin d'optimiser la productivité des élevages. La présente étude est un prérequis au processus de certification sanitaire des entreprises aquacoles ainsi que de l'assurance qualité de leurs produits. Abstract Pathologies are among the major factors causing significant production losses in fish farms, hence the need to comply with biosecurity measures. This work was carried out to assess the biosecurity practices in relation to socio-demographic and technico-economic determinants in fish farms of the Centre Region of Cameroon in order to contribute to the improvement of their productivity. A total of 50 farms were selected and audited between March to April 2022 using the "snowball" sampling method, face-to-face interviews of fish farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire and direct observation. Overall, the results showed a compliance rate (CR) and an adoption rate (AR) of 41.0 %. None of the farms recorded a CR > 75%. Fish farmers' age, education level, fish farming training, cost and constraints related to biosecurity practices significantly influenced compliance rates. Traffic management component (68.7%) was significantly the most observed followed by isolation (48.6%) and sanitation (31.3%). The multivariate linear regression was strong, positive and significant between the compliance rate, the rearing purpose and the training place. However, it was weak, negative and significant between the compliance rate and the health status of the fish. Stakeholders in the aquaculture sector need to be more involved in biosecurity in order to optimize farm productivity. This study is a prerequisite for the health certification process of aquaculture industry as well as for the quality assurance of its products.
... These figures contrast with the real aquaculture potential of the country, which boasts favorable climate conditions, a dense hydrographic network covering around 300,000 km², a rich ichthyological biodiversity, and the availability of agricultural and agroindustrial by-products for fish feed (MINEPIA, 2021) Indeed, despite these natural advantages, Fonkwa et al. 2022Fonkwa et al. , 2023 report that aquaculture faces obstacles such as diseases, and recommend addressing these for a healthy, sustainable and effective fish farming industry. These diseases are generally the result of poor biosecurity or hygiene practices by fish farmers (Fonkwa et al., 2023, Racicot andVaillancourt, 2009). ...
Background: Mechanical filtration of aquaculture water is an alternative to chemical products used to combat fish infections. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mechanical water filtration techniques on the epidemiological and zootechnical characteristics (EZC) of Clarias gariepinus. Methodology: A total of 240 specimens, free of any ailments and with an average weight of 10±03g, were distributed in triplicate among four treatments: T1 (no filtration system), T2 (1 layer of net), T3 (2 layers of net), and T4 (1 layer of net + 1 layer of gravel + 1 layer of sand), with 20 fish per experimental unit. Fish were reared for 105 days. Results: The EZC evaluation showed two clinical signs (trauma and inflammation). Overall, skin trauma was approximately 107 times more significantly represented than opercular trauma. The proportion of fish showing at least one ailment was very low (<10%) and varied non-significantly from 2.59% (T4) to 9.66% (T1). The condition factor was < 1 and was comparable (p > 0.05) between treatments. The mortality rate was high (> 5%) and more pronounced in the absence of a water filtration system. The average daily weight gain (1.560±0.468 g/day) and productivity (3.468±2.041 kg/m³/day) were comparable (p > 0.05) but higher in T1, while the production cost per kilogram of fish (0.37$/kg) was lower in T2 (p = 0.107). Conclusion: The EZC varied with the mechanical water filtration techniques but no significant difference was observed.
... Diseases should then be taken into account for healthy and sustainable fish farming. The absence or poor implementation of biosecurity measures by fish farmers has been reported as a major cause of the onset and spread of diseases in fish farms [2,3]. According to Alarcon et al. [4], biosecurity is the application of measures to reduce the level of risk or probability of introduction (external biosecurity) and spread of pathogens within the farm (internal biosecurity). ...
Biosecurity practice limits the occurrence of diseases and economic losses in fish farms. The objective of this study was to characterize fish farming in the Administrative Division of Wouri, Cameroon (3°97′04″–3°58′13″N; 9°76′78″–9°46′4.3″E) and assess the biosecurity practices. A cross-sectional biosecurity audit was then conducted in 33 fish farms from March to May 2022. The “snow ball” technique, on-farm observations, and face-to-face interviews of farm managers using a semistructured questionnaire were used for data collection. The results showed that most of the fish farmers were between 18 and 40 years of age (63.64%) and not trained in fish farming (60.61%). The lack of finance (57.57%) was the main constraint to the biosecurity practice. The high fish mortality rate (>15%) was recorded in 66% of the farms. Overall, the compliance rate (CR = 40.52 ± 14.70%) and adoption rate (AR = 40.40 ± 30.10%) of biosecurity measures were intermediate. No type C farm or at the minor risk level of contamination was recorded. Farmers of 18 to 40 years of age (45.24 ± 14.75%) who attended higher school (43.83 ± 14.44%) and received training in fish farming (47.44 ± 14.39%) recorded a significant higher CR. The CR and AR were significantly higher for the isolation component (CR = 60.17 ± 19.81%; AR = 60.17 ± 25.68%) followed by traffic control (CR = 53.53 ± 25.87%; AR = 53.53% ± 34.86) and sanitation (CR = 27.70 ± 19.70%; AR = 29.84 ± 26.00%). A strong (R² = 0.725), positive, and significant (p=0.019) linear relationship was found between the level of education of fish farmers and the biosecurity compliance rate while the health status of fish was weakly (R² = 0.207), positively, and significantly (p=0.017) influenced by the compliance rate. Fish farming is an income-generating activity that still requires socioeconomic, technical, and institutional efforts for optimal productivity. The Cameroonian government should emphasize on the education, training, and capacity building of farmers on biosecurity practices to minimise the introduction, establishment, and spread of diseases.
Background and aim:
Laying hen breeding is on the rise in Benin; nevertheless, there are several sanitary constraints to its development, including bacterial diseases. Faced with this situation, breeders mainly resort to different means of treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the current state of hygiene measures, the bacterial diseases commonly encountered, and antibiotic therapy practices on laying hen farms in Benin.
Materials and methods:
A total of 200 laying hen farms were randomly selected from lists of laying hen farms obtained from veterinary offices, territorial agricultural development agencies, and the Benin National Union of Professional Aviculturists. Each visited farmer was subjected to a semi-structured questionnaire by direct interview. The results were compared using the bilateral Z-test.
Results:
The results of this survey revealed that 99.5% of the surveyed farms had a health and medical prophylaxis program although only 88.5% of them reported strictly adhering to it (p<0.001). About 25.0% of them reported that the dominant bacterial diseases they commonly encountered on their farms were salmonellosis, colibacillosis, and chronic respiratory disease. Only 7.0% of farmers said that they confirmed their diagnosis outside of clinical signs through laboratory analysis. To control these pathologies, 14.5% of farmers used only oxytetracycline, while 39.0% used other antibiotics such as colistin, enrofloxacin, tylosin, tylodox, flumequine, and norfloxacin. In comparison, 13.5% used a trimethoprim-sulfadimethoxine and sulfadimidine combination, while 32.0% said that they used erythromycin, oxytetracycline, streptomycin, neomycin, and colistin (p<0.001) combination.
Conclusion:
This study highlights the inadequacies of hygiene and antibiotic therapy practices implemented on Benin's laying hen farms.
African swine fever (ASF), erysipelas and many other infectious and parasitic diseases have seriously compromised the future of pig industry in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. Since implementation of biosecurity measures (BM) is known to reduce the risk of disease transmission, the objective of this study was to describe the pig farming management system as well as the biosecurity practices on pig farms in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. Therefore, 97 farms were investigated using a face‐to‐face interview‐based questionnaire. Biosecurity practices were divided in three components: isolation, traffic control and sanitation. The results revealed that the majority of farms were extensive (73.22%), farrow‐to‐finish farms (59.79%) and essentially raising crossed‐bred (72.75%). The most practiced BM regarding ‘isolation’ were as follows: maintenance of the minimum distance between farms (56.06%) and dispatching of animals of same age in the same room (97.16%); for ‘traffic control’, the measures included the following: assignment of specific tools and equipment (96.86%) to a specific piggery; concerning ‘sanitation’, daily cleaning (97.06%), as well as using disinfectants (89.13%) were mostly implemented. The measures less implemented for ‘isolation’ included fencing (11.83%), compliance with the all‐in all‐out principle (10.11%), use of specific clothing (6.03%) and quarantine (7.69%); for ‘traffic control’, the less adopted measures comprised visitor hands washed before animal handling (11.65%), respect of linear flow principle (13.52%). Concerning ‘sanitation’, these measures included functional footbath (29.90%), processing of drinking water (27.84%) and cleanout (18.14%). The biosecurity level was low, intermediate and high for 73.71, 21.55 and 4.73% of farms, respectively. This low level suggests that ASF and other diseases are likely to remain endemic. The most important measures of concern and to improve are as follows: not feeding kitchen waste to pigs; keeping other livestock species away from pigs; fencing pig barn; keeping newly arrived animals in quarantine, not exchanging boars; not selling sick animals.
In the autumn of 2001, a survey was conducted to examine basic farm production and human resource characteristics of recirculation facilities in the United States and Canada currently growing finfish. An 86% response rate was achieved. The survey data indicate that this sector of aquaculture is quite heterogeneous. The number and pounds of fish produced is quite variable, with presence of small-, medium- and large-sized farms in this sector. Recirculation technologies are employed to culture a wide variety of both warm-water and cold-water fishes in both saltwater and freshwater situations. The four fishes most commonly grown in recirculation units in the United States and Canada are Atlantic salmon smolts, tilapia, hybrid striped bass and ornamental fishes. A high proportion of facilities using recirculation technologies use pumped groundwater as a primary water source. Over 40% of facilities represented in the survey rely on a single water source to sustain their operation and have no secondary water source as backup. Management personnel of recirculation facilities are highly educated; more than 74% of respondents reported holding at least an undergraduate degree. The majority of personnel managing recirculation facilities are middle-aged individuals who have over 10 years of related work experience. This findings of this study represent the first empirical description of the recirculation sector of finfish aquaculture in the United States and Canada.
In recirculation finfish facilities in the United States and Canada, biosecurity utilization is neither consistent nor uniform. Seeking reasons for this situation, we examined the beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes of managers and owners of such facilities about fish disease and biosecurity utilization. A questionnaire was mailed in the fall of 2001 to the managers and owners of 152 finfish-rearing recirculation facilities in the United States and Canada to gather information on their attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions regarding fish disease and biosecurity. The response rate to the survey was 86%. This paper reports on a subset of the overall responses, the responses of managers and owners who identified their facility as a business operation. Although respondents had a positive attitude towards biosecurity utilization, they had different beliefs about which disease types were of greatest concern for their farm. Respondents also had differing perceptions on the risk of disease transmission associated with different activities on their farms. In addition, respondents had various beliefs about the practicality and effectiveness of different biosecurity measures and why the practice of biosecurity was important to their farms. This study gives quantitative evidence that different fish farmers perceive disease and the practice of biosecurity differently. This study indicates that recognition of the human dimensions element is an important first step in the creation of biosecurity policies, strategies, and procedures that will be readily accepted and implemented and consistently applied by fish farmers on their farms. The findings challenge the heretofore traditionally accepted belief that poor biosecurity practice on a farm is primarily related to lack of knowledge about biosecurity.
The common disease prevention and control practices employed by the majority of beef and dairy herds today are inadequate to meet the future demands. They rely on visual observation, regulatory compliance, vaccination, and limited attention to biosecurity of the herds making animal additions.1 Bovine practitioners have been encouraged to increase their participation in nutritional, genetic selection, and financial and production record analysis for beef and dairy herds. Different surveys have indicated that cattle owners continue to look to the bovine practitioner primarily for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and addressing the needs of the individual animal. Veterinarians can strengthen their position in the decision-making team by providing a herd biosecurity and biocontainment risk management assessment and protocol. For this article, biosecurity will refer to attempts to prevent the entry of pathogens considered potentially harmful to the health and well-being of the herd. Practitioners are encouraged to expand the principles to include such things as genetics and nutrients. Biocontainment will refer to controlling the elements within a given population of cattle. Biocontainment strategies should apply to the management of epidemics within a herd and should address biosecurity failures.
Special training and feedback procedures were applied to improve the sanitation practices of nine kitchen workers who prepared the salads for a large university cafeteria. The target behaviors defining sanitation were (a) certain responses that increase the probability of microorganisms collecting on hands, and (b) handwashing following the designated microorganism-collecting responses. Behavioral effects of visual-recording equipment, sanitation training, and response feedback were systematically studied with an ABACADA design. Sanitation training lasted 30 min, and defined the target behaviors and sensitized the employees to the importance of reducing the transfer of microorganisms from hands to food: This educational approach increased the frequency of handwashing on only the first workday following the Sanitation Training. For a Feedback intervention, the kitchen supervisor and one of the authors showed individual employees their frequencies of microorganism-collecting and handwashing behaviors during the prior work period. On each day that Feedback was administered, the frequency of handwashing more than doubled the highest pre-treatment level (from a mean of 2.1 to 5.0 handwashings per day). No intervention influenced the occurrence of microorganism-collecting responses.
Research Summary
The present study assessed the comparative effectiveness of two forms of surveillance in preventing crime in public space: formal surveillance, in the form of closed‐circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras, and natural surveillance, in the form of improved street lighting. Based on the highest quality available research evidence on these two measures—from systematic reviews incorporating meta‐analytic techniques—it was found that they are equally effective in reducing crime. More detailed analyses showed that improved street lighting was more effective in reducing crime in city centers, that both were more effective in reducing property crimes than violent crimes, and that both measures were far more effective in reducing crime in Britain than in America.
Policy Implications
The results of this study lend support for the continued use of CCTV and improved street lighting to reduce crime, but they suggest that they need to be targeted more narrowly on property crimes. A policy that combines the two interventions may produce a greater yield in reduced crime rates, but this may be limited to vehicle crimes in car parks. Improved street lighting is an effective form of surveillance to reduce crime in public space, and it may attract less public resistance than CCTV surveillance cameras (in America at least). Lessons from the British studies to help improve the effectiveness of the two measures in America are explored.
