Associations between biosecurity and outbreaks of canine distemper on Danish mink farms in 2012–2013

Louise Gregers‑Jensen; Jens Frederik Gramstrup Agger; Anne Sofie Vedsted Hammer; Lars Andresen; Mariann Chrièl; Emma Hagberg; Mette Kragh Jensen; Mette Sif Hansen; Charlotte Kristiane Hjulsager; Tina Struve

doi:10.1186/s13028-015-0159-2

Associations between biosecurity and outbreaks of canine distemper on Danish mink farms in 2012–2013

Louise Gregers‑Jensen, Jens Frederik Gramstrup Agger, Anne Sofie Vedsted Hammer, Lars Andresen, Mariann Chrièl, Emma Hagberg, Mette Kragh Jensen, Mette Sif Hansen, Charlotte Kristiane Hjulsager, Tina Struve

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Abstract

Background: During 8 months from July 2012 to February 2013, a major outbreak of canine distemper involving 64 mink farms occurred on the Danish peninsula of Jutland. The canine distemper outbreak was associated with exposure of farmed mink to infected wild carnivores and could represent a deficit in biosecurity on the mink farms. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and association of specific biosecurity measures with the outbreak. The study was carried out in an epidemiological case-control design. The case group consisted of the 61 farms, which had a confirmed outbreak of canine distemper from July 2012 to February 2013. The control group included 54 farms without an outbreak of canine distemper in 2012 or 2013, selected as the closest geographical neighbour to a case farm. Results: The results showed that significantly more control than case farms had vaccinated their mink against canine distemper virus. Mortality was only assessed on the case farms, and there was a non-significantly lower mortality on vaccinated farms than on the non-vaccinated farms. Furthermore, the proportion of farms with observations of wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) inside the farm enclosures were larger for case farms, indicating that the control farms had a better biosecurity or were not equally exposed to canine distemper virus. Generally, all farms had very few specific precautions at the gate entrance in respect to human visitors as well as animals. The use of biosecurity measures was very variable in both case and control farms. Not using plastic boot covers, presence of dogs and cats, presence of demarcated area for changing clothes when entering and leaving the farm area and presence of hand washing facilities significantly lowered the odds of the farm having a canine distemper virus outbreak. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that consistent use of correct vaccination strategies, implementation of biosecurity measures and limiting human and animal access to the mink farm can be important factors in reducing the risk for canine distemper outbreaks.

Original language	English
Article number	66
Journal	Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica (Print)
Volume	57
Number of pages	7
ISSN	0044-605X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-015-0159-2
Publication status	Published - 30 Sept 2015

Keywords

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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title = "Associations between biosecurity and outbreaks of canine distemper on Danish mink farms in 2012–2013",

abstract = "Background: During 8 months from July 2012 to February 2013, a major outbreak of canine distemper involving 64 mink farms occurred on the Danish peninsula of Jutland. The canine distemper outbreak was associated with exposure of farmed mink to infected wild carnivores and could represent a deficit in biosecurity on the mink farms. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and association of specific biosecurity measures with the outbreak. The study was carried out in an epidemiological case-control design. The case group consisted of the 61 farms, which had a confirmed outbreak of canine distemper from July 2012 to February 2013. The control group included 54 farms without an outbreak of canine distemper in 2012 or 2013, selected as the closest geographical neighbour to a case farm. Results: The results showed that significantly more control than case farms had vaccinated their mink against canine distemper virus. Mortality was only assessed on the case farms, and there was a non-significantly lower mortality on vaccinated farms than on the non-vaccinated farms. Furthermore, the proportion of farms with observations of wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) inside the farm enclosures were larger for case farms, indicating that the control farms had a better biosecurity or were not equally exposed to canine distemper virus. Generally, all farms had very few specific precautions at the gate entrance in respect to human visitors as well as animals. The use of biosecurity measures was very variable in both case and control farms. Not using plastic boot covers, presence of dogs and cats, presence of demarcated area for changing clothes when entering and leaving the farm area and presence of hand washing facilities significantly lowered the odds of the farm having a canine distemper virus outbreak. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that consistent use of correct vaccination strategies, implementation of biosecurity measures and limiting human and animal access to the mink farm can be important factors in reducing the risk for canine distemper outbreaks.",

keywords = "Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Canine distemper virus, Biosecurity, Mink, Neovison vison",

author = "Louise Gregers‑Jensen and Agger, {Jens Frederik Gramstrup} and Hammer, {Anne Sofie Vedsted} and Lars Andresen and Mariann Chri{\`e}l and Emma Hagberg and Jensen, {Mette Kragh} and Hansen, {Mette Sif} and Hjulsager, {Charlotte Kristiane} and Tina Struve",

year = "2015",

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day = "30",

doi = "10.1186/s13028-015-0159-2",

language = "English",

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journal = "Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica",

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T1 - Associations between biosecurity and outbreaks of canine distemper on Danish mink farms in 2012–2013

AU - Gregers‑Jensen, Louise

AU - Agger, Jens Frederik Gramstrup

AU - Hammer, Anne Sofie Vedsted

AU - Andresen, Lars

AU - Chrièl, Mariann

AU - Hagberg, Emma

AU - Jensen, Mette Kragh

AU - Hansen, Mette Sif

AU - Hjulsager, Charlotte Kristiane

AU - Struve, Tina

PY - 2015/9/30

Y1 - 2015/9/30

N2 - Background: During 8 months from July 2012 to February 2013, a major outbreak of canine distemper involving 64 mink farms occurred on the Danish peninsula of Jutland. The canine distemper outbreak was associated with exposure of farmed mink to infected wild carnivores and could represent a deficit in biosecurity on the mink farms. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and association of specific biosecurity measures with the outbreak. The study was carried out in an epidemiological case-control design. The case group consisted of the 61 farms, which had a confirmed outbreak of canine distemper from July 2012 to February 2013. The control group included 54 farms without an outbreak of canine distemper in 2012 or 2013, selected as the closest geographical neighbour to a case farm. Results: The results showed that significantly more control than case farms had vaccinated their mink against canine distemper virus. Mortality was only assessed on the case farms, and there was a non-significantly lower mortality on vaccinated farms than on the non-vaccinated farms. Furthermore, the proportion of farms with observations of wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) inside the farm enclosures were larger for case farms, indicating that the control farms had a better biosecurity or were not equally exposed to canine distemper virus. Generally, all farms had very few specific precautions at the gate entrance in respect to human visitors as well as animals. The use of biosecurity measures was very variable in both case and control farms. Not using plastic boot covers, presence of dogs and cats, presence of demarcated area for changing clothes when entering and leaving the farm area and presence of hand washing facilities significantly lowered the odds of the farm having a canine distemper virus outbreak. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that consistent use of correct vaccination strategies, implementation of biosecurity measures and limiting human and animal access to the mink farm can be important factors in reducing the risk for canine distemper outbreaks.

AB - Background: During 8 months from July 2012 to February 2013, a major outbreak of canine distemper involving 64 mink farms occurred on the Danish peninsula of Jutland. The canine distemper outbreak was associated with exposure of farmed mink to infected wild carnivores and could represent a deficit in biosecurity on the mink farms. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and association of specific biosecurity measures with the outbreak. The study was carried out in an epidemiological case-control design. The case group consisted of the 61 farms, which had a confirmed outbreak of canine distemper from July 2012 to February 2013. The control group included 54 farms without an outbreak of canine distemper in 2012 or 2013, selected as the closest geographical neighbour to a case farm. Results: The results showed that significantly more control than case farms had vaccinated their mink against canine distemper virus. Mortality was only assessed on the case farms, and there was a non-significantly lower mortality on vaccinated farms than on the non-vaccinated farms. Furthermore, the proportion of farms with observations of wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) inside the farm enclosures were larger for case farms, indicating that the control farms had a better biosecurity or were not equally exposed to canine distemper virus. Generally, all farms had very few specific precautions at the gate entrance in respect to human visitors as well as animals. The use of biosecurity measures was very variable in both case and control farms. Not using plastic boot covers, presence of dogs and cats, presence of demarcated area for changing clothes when entering and leaving the farm area and presence of hand washing facilities significantly lowered the odds of the farm having a canine distemper virus outbreak. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that consistent use of correct vaccination strategies, implementation of biosecurity measures and limiting human and animal access to the mink farm can be important factors in reducing the risk for canine distemper outbreaks.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - Canine distemper virus

KW - Biosecurity

KW - Mink

KW - Neovison vison

U2 - 10.1186/s13028-015-0159-2

DO - 10.1186/s13028-015-0159-2

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26423523

SN - 0044-605X

VL - 57

JO - Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

JF - Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

M1 - 66

ER -

Associations between biosecurity and outbreaks of canine distemper on Danish mink farms in 2012–2013

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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