Dentistry is a profession that involves suveral risks, among them the biological agents are a serious threat to the professional s health as much as to the patient s and team s health. Learning to control there risks is a goal to be reached, where education must begin at the student s academic period. This study was accomplished at the dentistry course at the Federal University of Santa Maria and its main goal was to propose a system of risk management from a biosafety diagnosis. This diagnosis was carried out through the application of a checklist which evaluated actions developed by the students (through observation and interview), by the biosecurity management that the course has (through interview with the coordinator) and by the clinic physical structure (clinic observation). The collected data were analyzed and represented through graphic tables. It follows that the students lock a deeper engagement in relation to the infection control measures; that the discipline of biosecurity and ergonomics would be appropriate and that the physical structure of the clinics must adequate to the legal demands, in order to turn the performance casier in a more ergonomical way, helping educe occupational risks. / A odontologia é uma profissão que oferece vários riscos, dentre eles os agentes biológicos constituem uma séria ameaça à saúde tanto do profissional, paciente e equipe. Aprender a controlar estes riscos é uma meta a alcançar, onde a educação deve ser iniciada ainda na vida acadêmica. O estudo foi realizado no curso de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria UFSM e teve como objetivo propor um sistema de gestão de risco a partir de um diagnóstico de biossegurança. Este diagnóstico foi feito por meio da aplicação de um check list que avaliou as ações desenvolvidas pelos acadêmicos (através da observação e de uma entrevista), a gestão da biossegurança que o curso possui (através da entrevista com o coordenador) e a estrutura física das clínicas (observação das clínicas). Os dados coletados foram analisados e representados através de tabelas e gráficos. Concluiu-se que falta para os acadêmicos um maior comprometimento com relação às medidas de controle de infecção, que seria apropriada a inclusão da disciplina de biossegurança e ergonomia e que a estrutura física das clínicas devem se adequar as exigências legais para facilitar a atuação de maneira mais ergonômica colaborando para reduzir os riscos ocupacionais.

The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus poses a considerable threat both to farmers and to the wider economy should there be a future incursion into the UK. The most recent large-scale FMD epidemic in the UK was in 2001. Mathematical models were developed and used during this epidemic to aid decision-making about how to most effectively control and eliminate it. While the epidemic was eventually brought to a halt, it resulted in a huge loss of livestock and is estimated to have cost the UK economy around ¿6 billion. The mathematical models predicted the overall spatial spread of FMD well, but had low predictive ability for identifying precisely which farm premises became infected over the course of the epidemic. This will in part have been due to the stochastic nature of the models. However, the transmission probability between two farm premises was represented as the Euclidean distance between their point locations, which is a crude representation of FMD transmission. Additionally, the premises' point location data contain inaccuracies, sometimes identifying the farmer's residential address rather than the farm itself which may be a long way away. Local FMD transmission occurs via contaminated fomites carried by people or vehicles between premises, or by infected particles being blown by wind between proximal fields. Given that these transmission mechanisms are thought to be related to having close field boundaries, it is possible that some of the inaccuracy in model predictions is also due to imprecisely representing such transmission. In this thesis I use fine-scale geographical data of farm premises' field locations to study the contiguity of premises (where contiguous premises (CPs) are defined as having field boundaries < 15m apart). I demonstrate that the distance between two premises' point locations does not accurately represent when they are CPs. Using an area of southern Scotland containing 4767 livestock premises, I compare the predictions of model simulations using two different model formulations. The first is one of the original models based on the 2001 outbreak, and the second is a new model in which transmission probability is related to whether or not premises were contiguous. The comparison suggests that the premises that became infected during the course of the simulations were more predictable using the new model. While it cannot be concluded that this will translate into more accurate predictions until this can be validated during a future outbreak, it does suggest that the new model is more predictable in its route through the landscape, and therefore that it may better reflect local transmission routes than the original model. Networks based on contiguity of premises were constructed for the same area of southern Scotland, and showed that 90.6% (n=4318) of the premises in the area were indirectly connected to one another as part of the Giant Component (GC). The network metric of 'betweenness' was used to identify premises acting as bridges between otherwise disconnected sub-populations of premises. It was found that removing 100 premises with highest betweenness served to fragment the GC. Model simulations indicated that, even with some longer-range transmission possible, removing these premises from the network resulted in a large decrease in mean number of infected premises and outbreak duration. In real terms, premises removal from the network would mean ensuring these premises did not become infected by enhanced biosecurity and/or vaccination depending on policy. In this thesis I also considered the role of biosecurity practices in shaping FMD spread. A sample of 200 Scottish farmers were interviewed on their biosecurity practices, and their biosecurity risk quantified using a biosecurity 'risk score' developed during the 2007 FMD outbreak in Surrey. Using Moran's I and network assortativity measures it was found that there did not appear to be any clustering of biosecurity risk scores on premises. Statistical analysis found no association between biosecurity risk and the mathematical model's premises' susceptibility term (which describes the increase in a premises' susceptibility with increasing numbers of livestock). This suggests that the model's susceptibility term is not indirectly capturing a general pattern in biosecurity on different sized farm premises. Thus, this body of work shows that incorporating a more realistic representation of premises location into mathematical models, in terms of area (i.e. as fields) rather than a point, alters predictions of spatial spread. It also demonstrates that targeted control at a relatively small number of farms could effectively fragment the farming landscape, and has the potential to considerably reduce the size of an FMD outbreak. It also demonstrates that variations in premises' FMD biosecurity risks are unlikely to be indirectly affecting the spatial or demographic components of the model. This increase in understanding of how geographic, social and demographic factors relate to FMD spread through the landscape may enable more effective control of an outbreak, should there be an incursion in the UK in future.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:46:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CleoniceACA.pdf: 1045754 bytes, checksum: 23e958d7fcf55b4af799c77dde6db262 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-16 / The present study analyzes the conceptions and the nursing workers' practices about the relationship between vaccination and biosecurity in a public hospital of reference in communicable diseases in Natal/RN. It is treated, therefore, of a exploratory/descriptive study with qualitative and quantitative approach. They were constituted as collaborators of the research twenty-two nursing professionals, being five nurses, three auxiliary and fourteen technicians in nursing. The information were obtained through the interview technique with semi-structured route. In the quantitative approach, the information were analyzed by statistics and presented in form of tables and graphs to characterize the workers and the aspects related to the vaccination situation of the same ones; and in the qualitative approach, we used the method of content analysis. The analysis was accomplished starting from the categories empiric coming from the process of analysis of the field material, measure through inferences and interpretations based on the authors studied in the theoretical referential of the research. Starting from the analysis of the results, we verified that the nursing interviewees' workers establish in a clear way and it aims at, in your speeches, a direct relationship between vaccination and biosecurity besides attributing a meaning of great importance with relationship to the use of the vaccines in your professional lives in what refers to the control and decrease of the risks, above all the biological ones, to the which are exposed in the daily exercise of your functions. However, when analyzing those workers' vaccination situation, we verified that the vaccination covering still meets on this side of the expected for the vaccines of occupational interest, with prominence just for the vaccines against diphtheria and tetanus and to against hepatitis B, that presented coverings considered very good and above the national average. Considering that the institution, although has a service of health occupational active and offer some vaccines of occupational interest, it still presents a work of little mobilization in what refers to the consciousness and the workers' permanent education with relationship to the need and importance of the occupational vaccination, not only for your workers' protection, as well as measure in the infection control and, therefore, as safety for your patients/clients. We understood that that work type didn't still become politics guided by ministries of Health or of the Labor, however, it falls to the institutions that work for the interest of the workers' health to struggle for all and any action and mobilization that have as objective protects the workers of the risks in your work atmosphere / O presente estudo analisa as concep??es e as pr?ticas dos trabalhadores de enfermagem sobre a rela??o entre vacina??o e biosseguran?a em um hospital p?blico de refer?ncia em doen?as infecto contagiosas em Natal/RN. Trata-se, portanto, de um estudo explorat?rio/descritivo com abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa. Constitu?ram-se como colaboradores da pesquisa vinte e dois profissionais de enfermagem, sendo cinco enfermeiras, tr?s auxiliares e quatorze t?cnicos em enfermagem. As informa??es foram obtidas atrav?s da t?cnica de entrevista com roteiro semi-estruturado. Na abordagem quantitativa, as informa??es foram analisadas estatisticamente e apresentadas em forma de tabelas e gr?ficos para caracterizar os trabalhadores e os aspectos relacionados ? situa??o vacinal dos mesmos; e na abordagem qualitativa, utilizamos o m?todo de an?lise de conte?do. A an?lise foi realizada a partir das categorias emp?ricas advindas do processo de an?lise do material de campo, medida atrav?s de infer?ncias e interpreta??es baseadas nos autores estudados no referencial te?rico da pesquisa. A partir da an?lise dos resultados, constatamos que os trabalhadores de enfermagem entrevistados estabelecem de forma clara e objetiva, nas suas falas, uma rela??o direta entre vacina??o e biosseguran?a al?m de atribuir um significado de grande import?ncia quanto ao uso das vacinas em suas vidas profissionais no que se refere ao controle e diminui??o dos riscos, sobretudo os biol?gicos, aos quais se encontram expostos no exerc?cio cotidiano de suas fun??es. No entanto, ao analisar a situa??o vacinal desses trabalhadores, verificamos que a cobertura vacinal ainda se encontra aqu?m do esperado para as vacinas de interesse ocupacional, com destaque apenas para as vacinas contra difteria e t?tano e a contra hepatite B, que apresentaram coberturas consideradas muito boas e acima da m?dia nacional. Considerando que a institui??o, embora tenha um servi?o de sa?de ocupacional atuante e ofere?a algumas vacinas de interesse ocupacional, ainda apresenta um trabalho de pouca mobiliza??o no que se refere ? sensibiliza??o e educa??o permanente dos trabalhadores quanto ? necessidade e import?ncia da vacina??o ocupacional, n?o s? para a prote??o dos seus trabalhadores, como tamb?m como medida no controle de infec??o e, portanto, como seguran?a para os seus pacientes/clientes. Entendemos que esse tipo de trabalho ainda n?o se transformou em pol?tica orientada pelos Minist?rios da Sa?de ou do Trabalho, por?m, cabe ?s institui??es que trabalham pelo interesse da sa?de dos trabalhadores lutar por toda e qualquer a??o e mobiliza??o que tenham como objetivo proteger os trabalhadores dos riscos no seu ambiente de trabalho

Orientador: Luís Antonio Mathias / Banca: Masaio Mizuno Ishizuka / Banca: Patrícia Silva Pozzeti / Banca: Adolorata Aparecida Bianco Carvalho / Banca: Maria da Glória Buzzinaro / Resumo: A suspeita de Laringotraqueíte Infecciosa Aviária (LTI) em galinhas de postura de ovos comerciais da região de Bastos, Estado de São Paulo, foi notificada em 27/12/2002 ao Serviço de Defesa Sanitária Animal. A Coordenadoria de Defesa Agropecuária instituiu um programa de saúde animal para o controle da doença, com base no planejamento de fases que foram implantadas durante o seu desenvolvimento e amparadas por instrumentos legais especificamente elaborados para esta finalidade. A Portaria CDA no 2, de 10 de janeiro de 2003, proibiu o trânsito interestadual de aves de descarte da região e deu início à fase preparatória. A Resolução SAA no 27, de 30 de setembro de 2003, caracterizou a fase de execução com a delimitação da área infectada, denominada "Bolsão" de Bastos. A Portaria CDA no 4, de 20 de janeiro de 2004, estabeleceu um programa compulsório de vacinação contra a LTI. A partir de junho de 2004, nenhum novo caso de LTI foi observado no "Bolsão". A Resolução SAA no 43, de 17 de novembro de 2005, declarou a LTI controlada com vacinação, dando início à fase de consolidação das medidas de profilaxia implantadas. Com a Resolução SAA no 55, de 20 de dezembro de 2006, e a Portaria CDA no 58, de 29 de dezembro de 2006, o programa evoluiu para a fase de manutenção. Todas as fases foram complementadas por medidas de biosseguridade implantadas pelos avicultores. / Abstract: A suspect of Avian Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT) in layer hens from Bastos region, São Paulo State, was communicated on December 27, 2002, to the Official Service of Animal Health. The Coordenadoria de Defesa Agropecuária (CDA) instituted an animal health program for the control of the disease, based on the planning of phases established during the development of the program and supported by legal instruments especially developed for this aim. The Portaria CDA Nº 2 on January 10, 2003 forbade interstate traffic of adult layer poultry from the region and started the preparatory phase. The Resolução SAA no 27 on September 30, 2003, characterized the execution phase by the delimitation of the infectious zone identified as "Bolsão" of Bastos. The Portaria CDA no 4 on January 20, 2004, established a compulsory program of vaccination against ILT. From the month of June, 2004, no new case was observed in the "Bolsão". The Resolução SAA no 43 on November 17, 2005, declared the ILT controlled with vaccination, and started the phase of consolidation of the implanted prophylactic measures. From the Resolução SAA no 55 on December 20, 2006, and the Portaria CDA no 58 on December 29, 2006, the program evolved to the phase of maintenance. All the phases were complemented by biosecurity measures implanted by the owners of the layer hens. / Doutor

A presente dissertação tem por objetivo demonstrar que a maneira como vem ocorrendo o comércio transfronteiriço de alimentos geneticamente modificados gera dúvidas sobre a aptidão da legislação internacional de regulamentá-lo. Os alimentos transgênicos são resultado do avanço da biotecnologia moderna e interferem diretamente na saúde, na alimentação, na economia, nas relações de consumo e no equilíbrio ambiental. Assim, é direito indispensável de todo cidadão o poder optar e decidir a respeito do alimento que irá ingerir. Embora a biotecnologia moderna tenha trazido grandes avanços para a humanidade, ainda não é possível afirmar que os alimentos transgênicos são totalmente isentos de riscos para a saúde humana, animal e para o meio ambiente. Dessa forma, notase que existem posicionamentos opostos sobre a liberação comercial de OGMs no mundo: de um lado, o entendimento de que há inúmeros benefícios que podem advir da disseminação dos cultivos transgênicos para a agricultura e para o comércio; de outro, o entendimento de que há inúmeras incertezas quantos aos potenciais impactos negativos para a humanidade e para a natureza. Apesar das discussões permanecerem, a comercialização e o consumo de alimentos geneticamente modificados vem crescendo de maneira muito rápida e a nota-se que há uma grande preocupação internacional em se regulamentar o tema, porém, a pluralidade de posicionamentos pode gerar carência de coerência e efetividade na regulamentação existente. O avanço da Ciência é inegavelmente mais rápido que o do Direito. A complexidade do tema é enorme, vez que, ainda que a legislação acompanhe o progresso científico, existem divergências entre compromissos globais comerciais e ambientais, que, devido aos diferentes mecanismos de responsabilização e solução de conflitos do Protocolo de Cartagena e dos Acordos da Organização Mundial do Comércio, tendem à prevalência do interesse econômico em detrimento da proteção ambiental. O desafio está em se compatibilizar o avanço tecnológico com a preservação ambiental da maneira mais consciente possível, evitando situações de irreversibilidade de danos ambientais, o que, inevitavelmente traria impactos sobre o comércio internacional, daí a grande dificuldade. / This dissertation aims to demonstrate that the way that has been occurring cross-border trade of genetically modified foods raises doubts about the ability of international law to regulate it. Transgenic food is a result of the advancement of modern biotechnology and directly interferes in the health, in nutrition, in economy, in consumer relations and in environmental balance. It is therefore essential right of every citizen to be able to choose and decide about the food that will ingest. Although modern biotechnology has brought great advances for humanity, it is not yet possible to affirm that transgenic food are completely free of risks to human, animal health and the environment. Thus, we note that there are opposing positions on the commercial release of GMOs in the world: on one hand, the understanding that there are numerous benefits that can accrue the spread of GM crops for agriculture and trade, on the other, the understanding that there are many uncertainties to numerous potential negative impacts for humanity and nature. Despite discussions remains, marketing and consumption of genetically modified foods has been growing very quickly and we note that there is a great concern in the international regulatory issue, however, the plurality of positions can generate a lack of coherence and effectiveness in existing regulating. The advancement of science is undeniably faster than the law. The complexity of the issue is huge, since, although the legislation accompanies scientific progress, there are differences between commercial and global environmental commitments, which, due to the different mechanisms of accountability and conflict resolution of the Cartagena Protocol and the agreements of the World Trade Organization, tend to the prevalence of economic interests over environmental protection. The challenge is to reconcile the technological advancement with environmental preservation in the more conscientious way possible, avoiding situations of irreversibility of environmental damage, which , would inevitably impacts on international trade, hence the great difficulty.

Os procedimentos de limpeza e desinfecção usados na produção frangos de corte são fundamentais para a manutenção do alto nível de saúde do plantel, reduzindo o risco de ocorrência de enfermidades e melhorando o desempenho produtivo das aves. Existe a possibilidade de contaminação dos produtos desde a chegada das aves às instalações até o abate. Campylobacter é uma bactéria constantemente encontrada no trato gastrointestinal das aves e merece destaque na produção avícola devido a sua capacidade de provocar enfermidades em humanos. Para evitar a ocorrência de surtos de doenças transmitidas por alimentos como a campilobacteriose, para manutenção da saúde de plantéis avícolas e o aumento da produtividade de lotes de frangos de corte é necessário a realização das práticas preventivas como a limpeza e desinfecção. Desta maneira, o presente estudo teve como objetivos avaliar: o desempenho produtivo em lotes de frangos de corte desafiados com Campylobacter jejuni, a redução da pressão de infecção em instalações submetidas a diferentes protocolos de limpeza e desinfecção, e sua viabilidade econômico-financeira. Foi conduzido protocolo experimental no Laboratório de Pesquisa em Aves do departamento de Nutrição e Produção Animal, da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo, Campus Pirassununga. Foram realizados dois alojamentos cada um com 960 pintos de um dia de idade. No primeiro alojamento, todas as aves foram inoculadas com uma cepa conhecida de Campylobacter jejuni (atcc 33560) a fim de contaminar o ambiente criando desafio sanitário. No segundo alojamento foram realizados dois protocolos de limpeza e desinfecção, constituindo os dois tratamentos experimentais (Comum e Proposto). Neste lote, para avaliação da produtividade, foram mensurados os parâmetros: viabilidade, mortalidade, conversão alimentar, ganho de peso e consumo de ração. Para avaliação microbiológica do ambiente e das carcaças foi realizada a contagem total de microrganismos para ambiente e a identificação de Campylobacter spp.. As amostras positivas foram submetidas a um ensaio de PCR multiplex para identificação de espécies de Campylobacter spp. Para avaliação econômica financeira dos lotes de frangos de corte foram utilizados e adaptados os dados de custos de produção elaborados pela Embrapa Suínos e Aves às condições de criação e resultados obtidos no presente estudo. O tratamento Proposto demonstrou influências positivas no desempenho das aves, na redução da contagem total de microrganismos, na eliminação de Campylobacter spp. e viabilidade econômico-financeira / The procedures of cleaning and disinfection used in broiler production are necessary to maintaining a high standard of birds health, decreasing the risk of diseases, optimizing the animal performance, as well as to ensure sanitary quality of meat. There is possibility of contamination in all farming steps, since chicks arrival until the end of slaughter. Campylobacter is a bacteria constantly found at gastrointestinal tract of the birds, and so, a special concern must be given since it can cause human diseases. In order to avoid foodborne illness outbreaks such as campylobacteriosis, to ensure poultry flocks health maintenance and to improve broilers productivity, adopting preventive practices such as cleaning and disinfection is required. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate: the animal performance of broilers challenged with Campylobacter jejuni; the reduction of infection pressure in housing plants subjected to different cleaning protocols and disinfection, and its economic and financial viability. Experimental protocol was conducted at the Research Laboratory of Poultry of Nutrition and Animal Production Department, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Campus Pirassununga. Two housings each with 960 day-old chicks of age were performed. In the first housing, all birds were inoculated with a known strain of Campylobacter jejuni (ATCC 33560) to contaminate the environment in order to create health challenge. In the second housing were performed two cleaning and disinfection protocols, featuring two experimental treatments (Common and Proposed). In this lot, to evaluate animal performance, the parameters were measured: feasibility, mortality, feed conversion, weight gain and feed intake. For microbiological evaluation of environment and of carcasses, was performed a total count of microorganisms for environmental and identification of Campylobacter spp. The positive samples were subjected to a multiplex PCR assay identification of species of Campylobacter spp. For economic and financial evaluation of batches, the data of husbandry costs elaborated by Embrapa Swine and Poultry were adapted to conditions and rsults obtained in this study. Based on results, the Proposed treatment has shown positive influences on bird performance, reduction of total count of microorganisms, on elimination of Campylobacter spp. and on economic and financial viability

É reconhecida a importância da avicultura para o agronegócio e para o desenvolvimento do Brasil. Mas o País tem enfrentado grande concorrência internacional, que se traduz em barreiras sanitárias e exigências cada vez maiores de controle de seu rebanho por parte dos importadores. Neste sentido, o Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA) publicou uma série de atos legais para viabilizar a organização dos programas de saúde animal, entre eles as Instruções Normativas n° 56/2007, n° 59/2009, n°36/2012 e n°10/2013, para estabelecer os procedimentos para registro e fiscalização de estabelecimentos avícolas comerciais e de reprodução, voltados à biosseguridade do sistema avícola. Como todos os setores produtivos, a avicultura é fortemente influenciada pela sua estrutura de custos, de modo que há um certo sentimento de que a adequação às medidas de biosseguridade, preconizadas pelas normativas, pode impactar a atividade de produção de ovos comerciais de modo a levar, eventualmente, alguns avicultores ao abandono da mesma. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o impacto socioeconômico das políticas sanitárias para estabelecimentos avícolas comerciais de postura da regional agropecuária de Limeira, Estado de São Paulo, analisando o perfil socioeconômico da propriedade e do produtor e, estimando o custo de produção e seu impacto em atendimento às medidas de biosseguridade preconizadas pelas normativas. Para a análise do perfil das propriedades foram utilizados os dados dos 28 estabelecimentos avícolas, levantados por meio de documentação para registro. Para a análise do perfil do produtor e para estimar os custos de produção foram considerados dez estabelecimentos, voluntários à pesquisa, visitados entre os meses de junho e julho de 2013. O resultado do estudo sugere que as adequações à biosseguridade podem ser factíveis de serem realizadas economicamente, sendo o custo relativamente pequeno frente aos possíveis riscos de enfermidades, representando entre 1,61% e 2,09% do custo total de produção. No entanto, as sucessivas alterações nas legislações podem fazer com que o programa de sanidade avícola perca a credibilidade diante da sociedade e dos produtores que demonstram resistência às mudanças nos paradigmas zoosanitários / The importance of the poultry industry for agribusiness and development is recognized in Brazil, but the country has faced strong international competition, translated into sanitary barriers and increasing requests for the control of Brazilian flock by importers. In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) has published a series of legal acts to facilitate the organization of animal health programs, including Regulatory Instructions n°56/2007, n°59/2009, n°36/2012 & n°10/2013, to establish procedures for the registration and inspection of boilers, layer hens and commercial poultry breeding, focused on biosecurity systems. Like all productive sectors, the poultry one is strongly influenced by its cost structure, thus some people believe that the adequacy of biosecurity measures could affect the activity of commercial egg production and, eventually, lead some producers to the abandonment of the activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the socioeconomic impact of health policies on farm eggs of Limeira regional, Sao Paulo State, by analyzing the socioeconomic profile of the property and the producer, estimating the cost of production and its impact on compliance with biosecurity measures recommended by the Regulatory Instructions. For the analysis of the profile of farms we used data of twenty-eight poultry establishments, raised through documentation register. For the analysis of the profile of the producer and to estimate the costs of production, data was raised in ten farm eggs, volunteers of this research, which were visited between June and July 2013. The result of the study suggests that adaptations to biosecurity are economically feasible and costs are relatively small compared to the potential risks of disease, representing between 1.61% and 2.09% of the total production cost, thus not justifying the abandonment of activity. Nevertheless, successive changes in legislation may lead poultry health programs to lose credibility in society and with producers who demonstrate resistance to changes in zoo-sanitary paradigms

Master of Science / Department of Clinical Sciences / Michael W. Sanderson / A Monte Carlo model was developed to determine the cost-effectiveness of different biosecurity strategies for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) on cow-calf farms. Where possible, risk distributions were defined in the course of a critical literature review covering all publications since 1990 relevant to BVDV on cow-calf farms. The prevalence of persistent infections (PIs) in adult cows was unknown, so a survey of viremia in 2,990 adult cows for sale in the Midwest during 2006 was performed; prevalence was calculated to be 0.07%. In order to validate a newly developed RT-nPCR for pooled serum used for the survey, sensitivity was determined based on 100 known viremic serum samples; sensitivity was 95%, with no detectable effect of strain type. A Monte Carlo model was developed to calculate the risk of introducing BVDV to a cow-calf herd and number of PIs introduced in one year, based on herd imports and biosecurity strategies. The results of that model were integrated with a stochastic SIR model for the spread and impact of BVDV through a cow-calf herd over 10 years, based on herd size and control strategies. The resulting model was integrated with a stochastic model for the cost of both the biosecurity and control measures used and the financial impact of BVDV infection on the herd over 10 years. The lowest risk option of 14 biosecurity strategies were calculated for 400-, 100-, and 50-head herds with 8 different import profiles, and management factors that increase financial risk due to BVDV were determined.

Master of Science / Department of Clinical Sciences / Michael Sanderson / Biosecurity, biocontainment and security practices are important in production animal agriculture. Procuring cattle from multiple sources and commingling them into a single confinement operation increases risk of disease introduction. The large concentration of animals makes a feedyard a more likely target of a domestic or international terror group. Controlling or eradicating an intentionally introduced pathogen or toxin would be costly. The aim of these surveys was to gather information from experts about perceived risks and mitigation strategies and to assess current practices of biosecurity, biocontainment and security in Central Plains feedyards. Consulting veterinarians and feedyard managers shared similar views on the likelihood of disease caused by terrorism, natural introduction or accidental introduction, and on the importance of on-site security. They disagreed on the importance of preventative products, disease transmission control, and environmental control. Generally speaking, feedyard managers believed environmental control to be more important than consulting veterinarians. In reference to a survey of current practices, some feedyards use equipment for both manure and feed handling. Many feedyards are not cleaning and disinfecting oral treatment equipment, treatment facilities, or unloading facilities on a regular basis which may increases their risk for indirect disease transmission of endemic agents such as Salmonella or BVDV. Most feedyards in this survey import some cattle directly from an auction market, do not require clean boots or foot covering to be worn by visitors, and do not require trailers to be cleaned. Smaller feedyards were more likely to require trailers to be cleaned before loading incoming cattle. Less than half of the feedyards reported having a fence that will stop humans or kept protein supplements or micro-nutrients secured from access. Some feedyards enforced a visitor log or employed a night watchman. Most feedyards learned about a future employee by calling references listed in resume, but some performed a criminal background check. A cost-benefit analysis should be done on all management practices to determine economic benefits. More research is needed to better understand which practices are most beneficial.

The thesis traces the successive urban responses made by the Hong Kong government from 1997 to 2014, in an attempt to achieve “imagined immunity” for the city. The urban responses being analysed are efforts to regulate the ways in which “live poultry” (especially live chickens) is metabolized and circulating in the city. The efforts are made to re-order the human-birds-microbes relationships in Hong Kong - a process conceptualized as “re-urbanization of nature.” The consequence of these re-urbanization of nature processes, led to changes in the specific practice of consuming “live poultry” in the city. Four periods of re-urbanization of nature are identified in the analysis, and it is argued that in each wave of restructuring there were markedly different frames constructed to generate distinctive meanings of the “contagion condition,” imagined urban immunity, and practices of re-urbanization of nature. Their meanings and resultant practices were products of negotiations, within an entangled web of human and nonhuman features in particular periods. The context of these interventions and the biopolitical contestations are analyzed in the thesis. It is then argued that such contingencies and context-sensitive processes, call for further studies of post-epidemic urban changes. The thesis also explores the possibility of developing a theoretical framework of “urban biopolitical immunology” to accomplish the inquiry. By so doing, it seeks to contribute to studies of the politics of contemporary epidemics, and to research on the production of urban nature.