AAEP BIOSECURITY GUIDELINES GENERAL BIOSECURITY GUIDELINES


For the purposes of these guidelines, biosecurity includes all practices intended to prevent the introduction and minimize the spread of infectious disease agents in equine populations. Veterinarians oversee the health of equids in many contexts where infectious disease is likely to be introduced and spread, including veterinary clinics, equine event facilities, and stables where there is frequent movement of equids on and off the premises. Appropriate biosecurity measures are important to protect equids, protect people (from zoonotic disease), and maintain business continuity of the facility. This document will concentrate on biosecurity recommendations for equine events and stables. Several private and university veterinary hospitals have written biosecurity standard operating procedures for their equine veterinary clinics, and practitioners are encouraged to contact one of these institutions if guidelines for these purposes are desired.


While there are overarching infection control principles that apply to most circumstances, every scenario has unique attributes. Therefore, it is important for veterinarians to work with other involved stakeholders in advance of an urgent issue (i.e. BEFORE an outbreak) to develop plans that are practical and effective for the particular facility in question. Many people focus on the “outbreak management” aspect of biosecurity, but arguably more important are the day-to-day biosecurity practices that minimize the likelihood of a disease outbreak in the first place or make it easier to quickly contain an outbreak with minimal disruption and expense. Therefore, a comprehensive biosecurity plan includes the development and implementation of routine protocols to control infection, as well as a response plan if infectious disease is recognized.


Table of Contents


I. Identification of Key Personnel, Important Contacts, and Reference Materials II. Routine Biosecurity Protocol III. Outbreak Response


I.


Identification of Key Personnel, Important Contacts, and Reference Materials 1. Facility personnel responsible for organization of biosecurity (both routine and outbreak related) should be identified. Responsibilities and numbers of these personnel will vary dependent upon the type of facility but there should be a “person-in-charge” and a “chain of command” established. In the event of an outbreak, additional personnel will be required to facilitate isolation and should be designated ahead of time.


2. Other contacts to identify and record: a. State Veterinarian b. State Office of Public Health c. Event or Stable Veterinarian d. Veterinary diagnostic laboratory of choice e. Competition/Event Manager f. Governing body of event g. Carcass removal company h. Referral hospital for treatment of ill equids i. Potential locations for off-site isolation


1  Copyright AAEP – Revised 2017


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