1. Practical Applications for Managing Biological Risks Vector Transmission Beef Producers

2. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Biological Risk Management (BRM) Overall process of awareness education, evaluation, and management Designed to improve infection/disease control –Foreign and domestic diseases Provide tools to minimize risk

3. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Biological Risk Management (BRM) Disease risk cannot be totally eliminated –Animal, its environment –Decrease exposure –Infectious agent interactions Minimize threat to animals and humans No one-size-fits-all answer

4. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Routes of Transmission Spread of disease agents –Animal animal –Animal human Different modes of transmission –Oral –Vector-borne –Zoonotic –Aerosol –Direct contact –Fomite

5. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Vector Transmission Insect Acquires pathogen from one animal Transmits to another animal –Biological vectors Midges, ticks, mosquitoes –Mechanical vectors Flies

6. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Selected Diseases Spread by Vectors Foreign diseases Akabane Bluetongue Heartwater Lumpy skin disease Rift Valley fever Present in U.S. Anaplasmosis Anthrax Contagious mastitis Pink eye (Moraxella bovis) Vesicular stomatitis

7. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Routes of Transmission Apply to all infectious agents Animal must be exposed to develop disease Understand different routes of transmission = Gain control Risk areas must be identified –Design protocols to minimize exposure

8. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Disease Transmission Animals may not exhibit obvious clinical signs of disease Awareness of all routes of transmission is essential –Develop strategy to minimize disease risk for livestock operation

9. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 General Prevention Steps Overview Farm perimeter Animal identification Animal health Sick/dead animals Isolation/quarantine Supply handling Neonatal management

10. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 General Prevention Steps Limit contact with animals –Neighbor’s livestock –Wildlife, birds –Roaming cats, dogs Maintain fences Establish biosecurity protocols for delivery vehicles, personnel Lock gates

11. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 General Prevention Identify individual animals Important for: –Communicating health status –Treatment needs –Location on farm –Record keeping

12. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 General Prevention Steps Keep health records on every animal Review vaccination and treatment programs –Annually, bi-annually –Protocol versus actual Investigate unusual signs, unresponsive cases –Neurologic, downers, sudden death

13. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 General Prevention Steps Train farm personnel to report sick animals –Inspect animals daily –Clean equipment, boots, clothing Euthanize terminally ill animals promptly and appropriately –Removed or rendered Perform necropsy on animals that died from unknown causes

14. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 General Prevention Steps Isolate ill animals immediately –No shared ventilation, direct contact with other animals Quarantine newly introduced animals –New purchases, returning animals Time determined with veterinarian Test for key diseases before placing with rest of herd

15. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 General Prevention Steps Store non-refrigerated vaccines and antibiotics out of sunlight as it can deactivate them Monitor refrigeration temperature monthly –Ideal temp 36-46 o F Restrict access to medication to only properly trained personnel

16. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 General Prevention Steps Ensure adequate ingestion of disease- free colostrum in first 6 hours of life Prevent contact with older calves, contaminated environments

17. Vector Control

18. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Vector Control Source reduction –Flies, midges, mosquitoes Control adults –Flies, mosquitoes Minimize animal interaction –Ticks, midges Treatment protocols

19. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Source Reduction Flies –4 life stages Egg, larva, pupa, adult Cycle as short as 10 days in warm weather –Lay eggs in organic matter Manure, feed, wet bedding Disturb weekly to prevent development –Clean up spilled feed, feed bunks

20. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Source Reduction Fly larvicides –Feed additives All animals on farm, 3 weeks prior to season –Parasitic wasps feed on fly pupa –Predatory mites, beetles feed on larva Adulticides –Knockdowns for high concentrations –Residuals for barn walls, ceilings –Baits, fly traps in conjunction with other methods

21. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Control Adult Flies Target key areas on farm Animals Barns

22. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Disease Transmission Flies can spread: –Contagious mastitis –Dermatophilus (rain rot) –Grubs –Lumpy skin disease –Pink eye (Moraxella bovis) –Screwworm

23. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Source Reduction Biting midges –Lay eggs in decaying vegetation, wet soil, mud –Larvae need moisture, organic matter –Adults fly 1-2 miles from source –Manage settling ponds, stagnant water

24. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Disease Transmission Biting midges can spread: –Bluetongue virus

25. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Mosquitoes –Lay single eggs in damp soil –Lay eggs on water surface Larvae, pupae live upside down in water; –Breathe via siphon, trumpet at water surface –Larvae need organic matter for development Source Reduction Larva

26. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Disease Transmission Mosquitoes can spread: –West Nile virus –Rift Valley fever –Lumpy skin disease –Vesicular stomatitis

27. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Source Reduction Eliminate mosquito larval habitats Fill tree holes Empty containers that hold water weekly Circulate lagoons, water tanks Drill holes in or use half tires for silage piles

28. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Mosquito Larvicides Use when source reduction and biological control not feasible More effective and target-specific Less controversial than adulticides Applied to smaller geographic areas –Larvae concentrate in specific locations

29. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Control Adult Mosquitoes Insecticides/adulticides Less efficient than source reduction Require multiple applications Require proper environmental conditions –Light wind, no rain Small droplets to contact adults

30. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Minimize Animal Interaction Ticks –Mow pastures –Acaricides Midges –No effective animal treatment –Increase distance from source –Confine animals

31. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Disease Transmission Ticks can spread: –Anaplasmosis –Babesiosis –Dermatophilus (rain rot) –Heartwater –Q fever

32. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Summary Vector borne transmission occurs everyday on farms –Mastitis, pink eye, anaplasmosis Foreign animal diseases can also be spread via vectors –Rift Valley Fever, heartwater Prevention steps as described here can help minimize your risk

33. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Key Learning Objectives Biological risk management is important All diseases are transmitted by a few common routes Disease risk can be managed Awareness education is essential You play a critical role!

34. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Questions? www.cfsph.iastate.edu/BRM brm@iastate.edu 515-294-7189 CFSPH Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine Ames, IA 50011

35. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Acknowledgments Development of this presentation was funded by a grant from the USDA Risk Management Agency to the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University.

36. Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006 Author: Danelle Bickett-Weddle, DVM, MPH Reviewer: James Roth, DVM, PhD Acknowledgments