| 1. |
- Gröndal, Hedvig, et al.
(author)
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Perspectives of on-farm biosecurity and disease prevention among selected pig veterinarians and pig farmers in Sweden
- 2023
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In: Veterinary Record Open. - 2052-6113. ; 10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Biosecurity is important in preventing the spread of infectious diseases inanimal production. Previous studies have identified a disparity between the biosecurityrecommendations provided by veterinarians and the actual practices implemented byfarmers. This study compared group discussions with a few key actors among Swedishpig veterinarians and farmers on pig farm biosecurity.Methods: Two focus group discussions were conducted, one with five Swedish pig vet-erinarians and one with three pig farmers, to explore their views on pig farm biosecurityand efficient biosecurity measures. The discussions were analysed to identify differencesand similarities in how biosecurity was perceived.Results: The study identified differences between the veterinarians and pig farmers inhow they perceived good biosecurity and the level of biosecurity in Swedish pig herds. The veterinarians perceived that adhering strictly to the farming system and its barrierswas essential for good biosecurity. The biosecurity in the pig farms was often consideredinadequate. The veterinarians described difficulties in biosecurity-related communica-tion with the farmers. The pig farmers valued the flexibility of the farming system overstrict barriers and described that the level of biosecurity was good in Swedish pig herds. However, both groups also shared similar views regarding the challenges in farm biose-curity. They highlighted that biosecurity measures with proven efficacy are importantfor farmer motivation.Conclusions: This limited study suggested that different perspectives on biosecuritycan contribute to communication difficulties between pig farmers and veterinarians. Acknowledging both the differences and similarities of the different perspectives mayhelp improve cooperation and communication in biosecurity-related questions.
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| 2. |
- Tuominen, Krista, et al.
(author)
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Assessment of control measures against livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a farrow-to-finish pig herd using infectious disease modelling
- 2023
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In: Animal. - 1751-7311 .- 1751-732X. ; 17
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pigs are considered to be the main reservoir for livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA), which is a zoonotic opportunistic pathogen. As LA-MRSA is an occupational hazard, there is an incentive to control its spread in pig herds. Currently, knowledge about effective control measures which do not require culling the whole herd are limited, and the control strategies against LA-MRSA vary between countries. This study uses a stochastic compartment model to simulate possible control measures for LA-MRSA in a farrow-to-finish pig herd. The aims of the study were to (1) extend a previously published disease spread model with additional management and control measures; (2) use the extended model to study the effect of the individual LA-MRSA control measures on the within-herd LA-MRSA prevalence; (3) evaluate the effect of control measures when they are implemented in combinations. From the individual control measures tested in the study, thorough cleaning was found to be most effective in reducing the LA-MRSA prevalence in the herd. When the different control measures were combined, cleaning together with disease surveillance had the largest impact on reducing the LA-MRSA and a higher chance of causing disease elimination. The results of the study showed that achieving disease elimination once LA-MRSA had been introduced in the herd was challenging but was more likely when control measures were introduced early during the outbreak. This emphasises the importance of early detection of the pathogen and subsequent rapid implementation of LA-MRSA control measures.(c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Animal Consortium. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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| 3. |
- Tuominen, Krista, et al.
(author)
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Modelling environmentally mediated spread of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a pig herd
- 2022
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In: Animal. - : Elsevier BV. - 1751-7311 .- 1751-732X. ; 16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Infectious disease models are a useful tool to support within-herd disease control strategies. This study presents a stochastic compartment model with environmentally mediated transmission to represent the spread of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) in a farrow-to finish pig herd. The aims of the study were to (1) construct a model of the spread of LA-MRSA that included spread of LA-MRSA through the environment; (2) parameterise the model to fit previously published observational data in order to obtain realistic LA-MRSA transmission rates; (3) and to investigate how changes in the mixing of animals in the farrowing and finishing units may affect the prevalence of LA-MRSA in a herd. The results showed that indirect transmission allowed LA-MRSA to persist in the herd without the assumption of persistently shedding individuals. Reducing the mixing of pigs upon entry to the finishing unit was also shown to lower the LA-MRSA prevalence in the unit if the initial LA-MRSA level in the unit was low, but at high prevalence, no effect of mixing was identified. In the farrowing unit, changing the proportion of piglets that were cross-fostered did not affect the within-herd LA-MRSA prevalence. The study demonstrates that there are several important knowledge gaps regarding the shedding and transmission of LA-MRSA in different animal age groups and further experimental studies are needed. This work also provides a new, robust and flexible model framework for the investigation of control and mitigation strategies for LA-MRSA and other infections in a pig herd. (c) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Animal Consortium. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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| 4. |
- Tuominen, Krista, et al.
(author)
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Survival of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC398 on different surface materials
- 2023
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In: Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-605X .- 1751-0147. ; 65
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Zoonotic livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is widely spread in pig herds in many countries. However, the knowledge regarding the survival of LA-MRSA in the pig farm environ-ment is currently limited. The aim of this study was to assess the survival of LA-MRSA on different surface materials found in the farm environment. The study investigated the survival of two different LA-MRSA strains belonging to the clonal complex (CC) 398 on four different surfaces: stainless steel, polypropylene plastic, K30 concrete and commercial concrete disk coupons. The survival of the bacteria over time was determined by the viable count method and, where possible, fitting a model to the observed data by using nonlinear least squares method to calculate the half-life ( t1/2) for different strain and material combinations.Results The study showed that the half-life of the bacteria was longer on polypropylene plastic (t(1/2)=11.08- 15.78 days) than on stainless steel (t(1/2)=2.45-7.83 days). On these materials, both LA-MRSA strains survived through the 14 week observation period. The bacterial decay was fastest on the concrete surfaces, where LA-MRSA became undetectable after 3-9 weeks.Conclusions The survival of LA-MRSA in the pig farm environment may be affected by different surface materials. A more frequent sampling protocol (< 7 days) is needed to determine the half-life on concrete surfaces.
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| 5. |
- Tuominen, Krista
(author)
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Theoretical modelling of LA-MRSA in Swedish pig production
- 2023
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Antimicrobial resistance is a threat to global health. Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is a category of multiresistant bacteria that primarily colonises livestock animals. While pigs are considered its main reservoir, LA-MRSA is zoonotic and causes an occupational risk to those working with livestock. However, LA-MRSA is also capable of spreading to humans without livestock contact. Although LA-MRSA carriers are usually asymptomatic, LA-MRSA can cause a wide range of infections in humans.The aim of this thesis was to use disease modelling to study the spread of LAMRSA and assess possible control strategies in a Swedish farrow-to-finish pig herd—additionally, the thesis aimed to fill knowledge gaps regarding the survival of LA-MRSA in the farm environment.The modelling studies concluded that eradicating LA-MRSA is challenging. Early detection and introduction of control measures were considerably more effective in lowering the within-herd prevalence than measures that were implemented when LA-MRSA had become established in the herd. The time to disease elimination was at least 300 days even with the most effective control measures that were introduced early at the outbreak phase of disease spread.In an experimental study, the survival of LA-MRSA strains belonging to the clonal complex (CC) 398 varied on different surface materials (concrete, polypropylene plastic and stainless steel). This finding can be beneficial when planning efficient cleaning and disinfection routines in pig farms.In conclusion, investing in early detection and intensive early control measures may be justified if a low LA-MRSA prevalence country aims to have LA-MRSAfree pig herds.
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