Implementing biosecurity measures in the pig production is crucial to optimize animal health and reduce antimicrobial usage. A legal framework may help to ensure all stakeholders understand the need of biosecurity measures and to implement them correctly. Limited knowledge is available about how implementation of biosecurity measures is regulated in European countries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify which biosecurity measures were mandatory by national legislation and/or by pig sector organizations of European countries for the intensive pig production under normal circumstances (i.e. no (threat of) disease outbreaks). A questionnaire including 51 biosecurity measures, 32 on external and 19 on internal, was developed and sent to national country representatives. Twenty-four European countries, of which 18 belonging to the European Union, indicated which biosecurity measures were mandatory by law. Four countries, France, Spain, Italy and Romania had a single national pig-specific biosecurity legislation, while in the other countries multiple legislations had to be consulted to complete the questionnaire. In general, there was a high heterogeneity in the number of measures that were mandatory by law per country. Most biosecurity measures addressed in the national legislation focused on external biosecurity and were measures that can be easily audited when conducting a farm visit such as the presence of a hygiene lock, fencing around the farm and the existence of documentation. A significant (p < 0.001) positive correlation was observed between the presence of external and internal biosecurity measures in the legislation. Yet, no significant association was observed between the number of biosecurity measures present in the national legislation and the size of the pig production. Fourteen countries indicated which biosecurity measures were required by pig sector organizations for intensive pig farms. The median number of biosecurity measures mandatory by pig sector organizations but not by law was 13 with a minimum of one measure in Germany and a maximum of 24 in Croatia. Different countries apply different strategies to increase the level of biosecurity. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of the different strategies on the implementation of biosecurity on intensive pig farms in the countries.

Sheep and goat pox (SGP) are animal diseases of important economic impact which have been emerging into new geographic areas, including occasional incursions in disease free countries. The main objective of this study is to observe and analyse the global distribution of SGP during an 18-year period (2005–2022). Countries’ SGP epidemiology was characterised by classifying them according to the frequency of reporting years. A negative binomial regression model was used to test for associations between the economic status of a country, the sheep and goat populations, the continent, and the likelihood of an SGP outbreak occurring. A change-point analysis was used to determine significant change points of outbreaks for 18 years. Countries which presented high endemic status were mostly located in the North African region, the Middle East, and Asia, in particular India and China. Economic status was found to be significant for outbreak occurrence in endemic countries, in contrast to countries with outbreaks occurring where other socio-economic factors influence the disease occurrence. The total sheep and goat population was found to be significantly associated with countries and regions. The change-point analysis showed that changes in outbreak occurrence were observed when countries with most reported outbreaks controlled the diseases. While the husbandry and social conditions that exist in certain regions, particularly of Africa and Asia, make the prospect of SGP eradication highly unlikely, an effective implementation of vaccination strategies and control policies would decrease the incidence of SGP, improving animal health and economics in affected countries.

Linezolid is a critically important antimicrobial used in human medicine. While linezolid is not licensed for food-producing animals, the veterinary use of other antimicrobials, such as phenicols (e.g., florfenicol), could cross/co-select for linezolid-resistant (LR) bacteria. Such LR strains pose a great concern for public health due to their potential transfer between animals and humans. This study explored possible associations between epidemiological risk factors, including phenicol use, and the occurrence of LR bacteria, such as enterococci and staphylococci, in poultry, pigs, and veal calves in Belgium. Florfenicol use significantly increased the likelihood of harboring LR bacteria in veal calves, sows, and fattening pigs, particularly for the digestive tract (odds ratio (OR): [3.19–5.29]) and the respiratory tract (OR: [6.11–9.09]). LR strains from feces from fattening pigs were significantly associated with production type (OR: [3.31–44.14]) and the presence of other animal species (OR: 0.41). The occurrence of LR strains in the respiratory tract from sows was also significantly associated with using antimicrobials other than florfenicol (OR: 10.07) and purchasing animals (OR: 7.28). Our study highlights the potential risks of using certain veterinary antimicrobials, such as florfenicol, in food-producing animals and emphasizes the need for responsible antimicrobial use to safeguard both animal and public health.

Although many websites provide biosecurity information, there is no structured guidance on what constitutes an effective biosecurity website. This study aimed to understand what is a good biosecurity website for farmers and veterinarians, and to what extent different websites meet the proposed good features. The study included three steps: i) A World Café activity was conducted to identify the features of a "good" biosecurity website. ii) A sample of biosecurity websites was identified through an online survey and generative artificial intelligence and then screened by researchers. iii) The main improvement needs of biosecurity websites were detected by comparing the screened websites with the features of a "good" biosecurity website. Based on the World Café, the features of a good biosecurity website targeted to farmers were ease of use, cost-free access, availability in local languages and content including, for example, biosecurity lessons with media, examples of farm practices, biosecurity guidelines, self-evaluation tests of person's knowledge and farm's biosecurity level, and news about disease outbreaks and regulations. A good website for veterinarians should contain more detailed protocols, guidelines and tools than a website for farmers, and resources for creating biosecurity plans and enhancing veterinarian-farmer communication. The depth and breadth of information available on the screened websites varied. Most websites had a limited number of "good" features present. The comparison step suggested that the greatest improvement potential among the websites was in adding information on how to communicate about biosecurity, biosecurity's costs and benefits, self-evaluation tests, and videos and illustrations about biosecurity measures.

(1) Background. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a substantial global health threat with profound economic implications. Acknowledging the imperative for a One Health (OH) strategy to combat this menace, Belgium introduced an annual national OH report, known as the “BELMAP report,” encompassing antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR, with the first edition completed in 2021. The integration of innovations for the healthcare system demands a meticulously planned process. (2) Methods. We introduced a three-step stakeholder analysis (SA) as a prospective framework for navigating this new report process, fostering complementary collaboration, pinpointing obstacles, suggesting approaches to overcome them, and facilitating national policy development. The SA unfolds in three steps: stakeholders identify and list their relevant activities, assess their positions regarding the BELMAP report, and complete “actor mapping” of national AMR and AMU stakeholders. (3) Results. Stakeholder identification reveals a fragmented landscape of AMR and AMU activities across Belgium. Assessment of stakeholder positions uncovers diverse expectations, collaborative challenges, and resource considerations. “Actor mapping” identifies key stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of high-interest and high-power actors. (4) Conclusions. This SA approach not only provides insights into the present stakeholder landscape in Belgium, it can also serve as a blueprint for other countries in the process of developing OH reports.

A backyard cat with symptoms of otitis was transferred to a veterinary clinic in Central Greece. A sample was obtained and P. aeruginosa was isolated. The strain exhibited an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) profile, as it was non-susceptible to all tested agents except colistin. DNA extraction and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were performed using a robotic extractor and Ion Torrent technology, respectively. The genome was assembled and screened for resistance and virulence determinants. The isolate belonged to the high-risk clone ST308 with a total of 67 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and 221 virulence factor-related genes being identified. No plasmids were detected. The metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) bla_NDM-1 gene and 46 efflux pumps were included in the strain’s resistome. Both ARGs conferring tolerance to disinfecting agents and biofilm-related genes were identified, associated with the ability of this clone to adapt and persist in healthcare facilities. This case highlights the risk of relevant bacterial clones spreading in the community and even being transmitted to companion animals, causing challenging opportunistic infections to susceptible individuals, while others may become carriers, further spreading the clones to their owners, other animals and the environment.