Page 122 - Jan_2020

“Each fly acting as a mechanical vector can carry 6,000 Salmonella organisms at one time.”
(2-3 cm diameter, i.e. about an inch) of hand sanitizing gel must be applied, rubbed in well and then allowed to dry for 15-20 seconds.
Some farms require that every visitor sign in to a visitor log – this ensures a trace back should an outbreak occur. When possible, all visitors should park away from barns, paddocks and pastures. If anyone has visited other farms where they have encountered sick or not-quite- right horses, then request that they come back another day once cleaned up, in fresh clothing and footwear. Use of bactericidal and viricidal footbaths is important for disinfection of foot- wear under all circumstances.
Throughout the farm, dedicate implements like shovels, rakes and pitchforks with separate uses for either manure cleanup or application
of bedding, but not both. Consider direction of water drainage so there is no chance of contam- ination of any part of the farm with any other part. Manure management and elimination of standing water are important, too, to mini- mize flies and mosquito vectors that can carry disease around the property. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) notes a sobering fact of just one example: “Each fly acting as a mechanical vector can carry 6,000 Salmonella organisms at one time.”
Children and small animals (cats and dogs)
as well as wild animals (rodents, raccoons, opossums, etc.) also can carry disease around a farm. Cats, dogs, and children are manageable to some extent, although wild animals are not. Remove wild animal attractants and store feed supplies within animal-proof containers, rooms or buildings. Clean up spilled or leftover feed and remove trash regularly.
It is often difficult to figure out what to
do with horses that travel regularly off the farm and back again. Do you isolate them into separate areas altogether, or reintegrate them back into the herd or barn? It helps to segregate traveling horses into their own group and with as much distance as possible from others on the farm. Many horse owners are fairly lackadai- sical about following biosecurity protocols
in these situations, especially during a busy training and competition season. If no special measures are taken on the farm, then at the very least, caution should be taken when away.
Horse trailers also move on and off the prop- erty, with horses and horse secretions abundant on the interior surfaces. For example, influenza virus remains infective in this kind of dark, cool, moist environment for 7-10 days; herpesvirus can remain infective in manure for up to 35 days. Remove all soiled feed, water, and manure; dispose of these away from the resident herd in dumpsters or well-tended compost piles. Trailers
are best parked away from resident horses and cleaned and disinfected as often as possible, especially after returning from an off-site loca- tion. Spray trailers both inside and outside with pesticides to limit infection brought in by insect vectors. Clean floor mats in the vehicle and don’t forget to wipe down the vehicle’s steering wheel with antiseptic or baby wipes to remove accumulated microbes.
PREPARATION IS KEY
Have a plan at the ready in the event
that something falls through the cracks and
an outbreak occurs on your farm. Know in advance where to move sick horses away from the others, how to monitor every horse on the property, and the logistics of caring for both well and sick animals during an outbreak. Con- sult with your veterinarian for details on how best to accommodate this situation.
Biosecurity strategies are part of waging a war on equine infectious disease not just on your farm, but also around the country. While this multitude of efforts may at first glance seem labor intensive, keeping your herd’s health paramount through simple biosecurity steps can save you from great difficulty, expense, and intensive labor. The objective is to prevent an infectious disease outbreak in the first place and to keep your horse “healthy as a horse.”
It is best to park trailers away from resident horses, especially after returning from an off-site location. Clean and disinfect the trailer, inside and out, to limit infection brought in by insect vectors.
118 SPEEDHORSE, January 2020
VETERINARY VIEWS