Potential biosecurity breaches in poultry farms: Presence of free-ranging mammals near laying-hen houses assessed through a camera-trap study

Diligent application and implementation of biosecurity measures stand as the most effective measures to prevent disease transmission through direct or indirect interactions between poultry and free-ranging animals. Among these, free-ranging mammals can be hosts or disseminators of several pathogens...

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Main Authors: Giulia Graziosi, Caterina Lupini, Francesco Dalla Favera, Gabriella Martini, Geremia Dosa, Gloria Garavini, Giacomo Trevisani, Alessandro Mannelli, Elena Catelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Veterinary and Animal Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X24000607
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author Giulia Graziosi
Caterina Lupini
Francesco Dalla Favera
Gabriella Martini
Geremia Dosa
Gloria Garavini
Giacomo Trevisani
Alessandro Mannelli
Elena Catelli
author_facet Giulia Graziosi
Caterina Lupini
Francesco Dalla Favera
Gabriella Martini
Geremia Dosa
Gloria Garavini
Giacomo Trevisani
Alessandro Mannelli
Elena Catelli
author_sort Giulia Graziosi
collection DOAJ
description Diligent application and implementation of biosecurity measures stand as the most effective measures to prevent disease transmission through direct or indirect interactions between poultry and free-ranging animals. Among these, free-ranging mammals can be hosts or disseminators of several pathogens relevant to poultry and of public health concern. Moreover, evidence of susceptibility to avian influenza virus infection in non-human mammals has raised questions about their potential role in the virus' epidemiology at the domestic animal-wildlife interface. Given this background, this study aimed to identify mammal species occurring near laying-hen houses and characterize the spatiotemporal patterns of these visits. Seven camera traps were deployed for a year-long period in three commercial poultry farms in a densely populated poultry area in Northern Italy. Various methods, including time series analysis and generalized linear models, were employed to analyze daily mammal visits. A total of 1,867 camera trap nights yielded 567 videos of seven species of wild mammals, and 1,866 videos showed domestic pet species (cats and dogs). Coypus (Myocastor coypus) and cats were the two mammals more frequently observed near poultry houses. For wild mammals, visits significantly increased at night, and slightly decreased during the spring season. Overall, the data hereby provided lay the groundwork for designing novel surveillance and intervention strategies to prevent cross-species disease transmission. Moreover, the utilization of visual evidence depicting free-ranging animals approaching poultry houses could assist health authorities in educating and raising awareness among stakeholders about potential risks of pathogen spillover.
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spelling doaj-art-918bd78cc60241daa6c15ac3fde4fecf2025-08-20T02:48:39ZengElsevierVeterinary and Animal Science2451-943X2024-12-012610039310.1016/j.vas.2024.100393Potential biosecurity breaches in poultry farms: Presence of free-ranging mammals near laying-hen houses assessed through a camera-trap studyGiulia Graziosi0Caterina Lupini1Francesco Dalla Favera2Gabriella Martini3Geremia Dosa4Gloria Garavini5Giacomo Trevisani6Alessandro Mannelli7Elena Catelli8Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, BO, Italy; Corresponding author.Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, BO, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, BO, ItalyVeterinary Services, Local Health Unit of Imola (A.U.S.L. di Imola), Imola, 40026, BO, ItalyVeterinary Services, Local Health Unit of Imola (A.U.S.L. di Imola), Imola, 40026, BO, ItalyVeterinary Services of Eurovo Group, Imola, 40026, BO, ItalyVeterinary Services of Eurovo Group, Imola, 40026, BO, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco, 10095, Torino, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, BO, ItalyDiligent application and implementation of biosecurity measures stand as the most effective measures to prevent disease transmission through direct or indirect interactions between poultry and free-ranging animals. Among these, free-ranging mammals can be hosts or disseminators of several pathogens relevant to poultry and of public health concern. Moreover, evidence of susceptibility to avian influenza virus infection in non-human mammals has raised questions about their potential role in the virus' epidemiology at the domestic animal-wildlife interface. Given this background, this study aimed to identify mammal species occurring near laying-hen houses and characterize the spatiotemporal patterns of these visits. Seven camera traps were deployed for a year-long period in three commercial poultry farms in a densely populated poultry area in Northern Italy. Various methods, including time series analysis and generalized linear models, were employed to analyze daily mammal visits. A total of 1,867 camera trap nights yielded 567 videos of seven species of wild mammals, and 1,866 videos showed domestic pet species (cats and dogs). Coypus (Myocastor coypus) and cats were the two mammals more frequently observed near poultry houses. For wild mammals, visits significantly increased at night, and slightly decreased during the spring season. Overall, the data hereby provided lay the groundwork for designing novel surveillance and intervention strategies to prevent cross-species disease transmission. Moreover, the utilization of visual evidence depicting free-ranging animals approaching poultry houses could assist health authorities in educating and raising awareness among stakeholders about potential risks of pathogen spillover.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X24000607Poultry farmsCamera-trapsWild mammalsDomestic mammalsCoypusCats
spellingShingle Giulia Graziosi
Caterina Lupini
Francesco Dalla Favera
Gabriella Martini
Geremia Dosa
Gloria Garavini
Giacomo Trevisani
Alessandro Mannelli
Elena Catelli
Potential biosecurity breaches in poultry farms: Presence of free-ranging mammals near laying-hen houses assessed through a camera-trap study
Veterinary and Animal Science
Poultry farms
Camera-traps
Wild mammals
Domestic mammals
Coypus
Cats
title Potential biosecurity breaches in poultry farms: Presence of free-ranging mammals near laying-hen houses assessed through a camera-trap study
title_full Potential biosecurity breaches in poultry farms: Presence of free-ranging mammals near laying-hen houses assessed through a camera-trap study
title_fullStr Potential biosecurity breaches in poultry farms: Presence of free-ranging mammals near laying-hen houses assessed through a camera-trap study
title_full_unstemmed Potential biosecurity breaches in poultry farms: Presence of free-ranging mammals near laying-hen houses assessed through a camera-trap study
title_short Potential biosecurity breaches in poultry farms: Presence of free-ranging mammals near laying-hen houses assessed through a camera-trap study
title_sort potential biosecurity breaches in poultry farms presence of free ranging mammals near laying hen houses assessed through a camera trap study
topic Poultry farms
Camera-traps
Wild mammals
Domestic mammals
Coypus
Cats
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X24000607
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