New Findings in Animal Biosecurity Related to Viral Diseases
A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Viruses".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 15
Special Issue Editors
Interests: infectious diseases; vector-borne diseases; zoonoses; epidemiology; risk analysis; biosecurity
* Member of the Council of the World Animal Biosecurity Association
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biosecurity and contagious diseases in swine and poultry
* President of the World Animal Biosecurity Association
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
There are several definitions of animal biosecurity, but the most popular is the one that conceptualizes the 5Bios rule (bio-exclusion, bio-containment, bio-compartmentation, bio-prevention, and bio-preservation). Within this definition, animal biosecurity encompasses all measures taken to (1) limit the risk of introducing pathogens (bio-exclusion); (2) limit the spread of pathogens within the same facility (bio-compartmentation); (3) limit the spread of pathogens outside the facility (inter-herd transmission) (bio-containment); (4) prevent the risk of human contamination by pathogens (bio-prevention); and (5) prevent environmental bio-contamination and the persistence of pathogens (bio-preservation). The benefits of implementing more biosecurity measures on a farm are improved animal productivity and farm health status in terms of disease, and a decrease in economic losses. For example, the implementation of biosecurity and its effective monitoring can prevent losses resulting from African swine fever and was shown in one study to have a benefit–cost ratio of 29. The public can also encourage government engagement and strengthen national and regional efforts to increase biosecurity capacity. When it comes to viral diseases, biosecurity is a core component of any control strategy, e.g., farm biosecurity measures to limit avian influenza virus circulation on commercial chicken farms, to minimize risk factors for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection on duck farms, to minimize risk factors for Hepatitis E virus serological status on pig farms, and to prevent the introduction of foot-and-mouth virus and mitigate its spread if an outbreak occurs, and the identification of national biosecurity measures to increase African swine fever preparedness.
Animal biosecurity, which is key to minimizing the risk of viral animal diseases that harm human society, is increasing in importance and has been implemented for several years in veterinary medicine curricula as well as in European Animal Health Law. A new chapter of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code on biosecurity is currently being prepared by the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the World Animal Biosecurity Association (WABA) will be officially registered as an international association this year. The objectives of this Special Issue are as follows: (i) understanding what animal biosecurity is and why it is important for dealing with viral diseases; (ii) estimating and/or understanding the needs and expectations of farmers, animal onwners, veterinary practitioners, and governmental and non-governemantal organizations regarding animal biosecurity; (iii) estimating the costs and benefits of adopting animal biosecurity measures on a farm/facility; (iv) evaluating the level of protection afforded to a farm/facility using adapted and innovative methodologies and tools for different species; (v) determining the necessary changes in behaviour of farmers, onwners, veterinary practitioners, and governmental and non-governemantal organizations regarding animal biosecurity in order to significantly reduce the incidence of important viral diseases in major animal productions; and (vi) establishing the most effective way to communicate/dissiminate animal biosecurity information to farmers, owners, and veterinary practitioners. Review papers—including scopping reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses—as well as original papers on the above topics that contribute to the objectives of this Special Issue are welcome.
Prof. Dr. Claude Saegerman
Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- viruses
- animal
- biosecurity
- evaluation
- communication
- needs
- cost–benefit analysis
- behaviour change
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