Infection control and biosecurity in equine disease control

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Equine Health
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• Infectious diseases represent a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic loss in horses.
• Endemic and emerging infectious diseases, alongside outbreaks, present continuous challenges to equine populations.
• The equine industry's nature, including frequent horse movement, exacerbates infection control difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of infection control and biosecurity in managing equine infectious diseases.
• To underscore the need for objective research in equine infection control strategies.
• To emphasize the foundational role of understanding basic infection control concepts for successful disease management.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing knowledge on equine infectious diseases and control measures.
• Analysis of challenges specific to the equine industry regarding biosecurity.
• Identification of practical infection prevention and control strategies.

Main Results:

• Objective research on equine infection control and biosecurity is currently limited.
• A variety of practical infection prevention and control measures are available for use.
• Challenges to effective infection control include industry practices, endemic pathogens, and lack of understanding or motivation.

Conclusions:

• Basic understanding of infection control and biosecurity is fundamental for managing equine infectious diseases.
• Proactive measures are essential to restrict pathogen entry and limit disease implications.
• Addressing challenges requires improved understanding and motivation to enhance biosecurity practices.