Observations as a way to assess the compliance of veterinary students with biosecurity procedures

In veterinary medicine, biosecurity relies on the implementation and respect of procedures that reduce the risk of the introduction and spread of pathogens. The main objective of the study was to assess the usefulness of observations in estimating the compliance of veterinary students with biosecurity measures implemented in the necropsy room of a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (n = 122 observations) and in a private slaughterhouse (n = 56 observations) in Belgium, during day sessions of practical work. Checklists compiling the biosecurity rules to apply in both contexts were established (31 rules were considered for the necropsy room and 35 for the slaughterhouse). Observations were performed by a single person to ensure standardisation. The level of compliance with biosecurity rules was intermediate and reached 42% vs. 37% for the necropsy room and the slaughterhouse, respectively. No significant difference was observed between these compliance rates. Increasing staff supervision of students and increasing awareness through education should be encouraged. The follow-up of observations through time could be used to assess the evolution of compliance with biosecurity measures.