Dust exposure and health of workers in duck hatcheries

Objectives The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to investigate dust exposure and respiratory health of workers in duck hatcheries in western France. Material and Methods Ninety volunteer workers, who work in sorting rooms and/or incubation rooms, participated in exposure assessments and medical examinations. Medical examinations were performed by occupational health practitioners.They filled-in a questionnaire with the workers, followed by a lung function test on each worker. General characteristics and prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms were described in each type of working rooms. Associations between symptoms and exposure (working room or dust level) were studied in GEE multivariate models. Results Overall prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm) and chronic bronchitis were similar or lower than in the reference population. However, prevalence of these symptoms was higher for those working in sorting rooms, that were associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function. Respirable dust was also significantly associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms. The prevalence of asthma and rhinitis were well above those in the reference population, but did not vary among working rooms. Descriptive data suggested an occupational origin for some cases. Conclusions Hatchery workers were at increased risk of compromised respiratory health due to dust exposure, particularly those who work in sorting rooms. Asthma and rhinitis were in excess in this population of workers. Thorough clinical examination of these workers should be performed and all exposures assessed

Retrospective studies on rabbit haemorrhagic disease outbreaks caused by RHDV GI.2 virus on farms in France from 2013 to 2018

[EN] Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a critical health threat to the rabbit industry in Europe. In 2018, the French rabbit industry adopted a voluntary control plan against this disease. In this context, two epidemiological studies were conducted on RHD outbreaks that occurred between 2013 and 2018 in France. The objectives were to describe the spread of RHD due to the new genotype RHDV GI.2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus GI.2) and to identify rearing factors influencing the occurrence of the disease in order to guide the prevention measures recommended in the control plan. An analysis of cases on 295 farms between 2013 and 2017 showed that 32% of farms were affected at least once; the incidence of the disease increased in 2016-2017 compared to 2013-2015. Farms already affected in 2013-2015 had a higher risk of being infected in 2016-2017 than those that remained unaffected until 2015 (Relative Risk and 95% Confident Interval 1.7 [1.1-2.7]). A case-control study carried out between 2016 and 2018 on 37 outbreaks and 32 control farms revealed variability in biosecurity and decontamination practices between farms. The risk of being infected tends to be linked to these practices, but certain structural factors (e.g. the manure disposal system, transfer of rabbits at weaning) could also influence the risk of virus introduction into farms. In the context of a limited vaccination coverage of the farms (only females are vaccinated), these hypotheses will be studied further, using information from the RHD outbreak monitoring system implemented at the same time as the control plan in 2018.This study was founded by the French Ministry of Agriculture (2017-430 / 170274).Huneau-Salaün, A.; Boucher, S.; Fontaine, J.; Le Normand, B.; Lopez, S.; Maurice, T.; Nouvel, L.... (2021). Retrospective studies on rabbit haemorrhagic disease outbreaks caused by RHDV GI.2 virus on farms in France from 2013 to 2018. World Rabbit Science. 29(2):87-98. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2021.12800OJS8798292Abrantes J., Van der Loo W., Le Pendu J., Esteves P.J. 2012. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV): a review. Vet. Res., 43: 12.https://doi.org/10.1186/1297-9716-43-12Capucci L., Cavadini P., Schiavitto M., Lombardi G., Lavazza A. 2017. Increased pathogenicity in rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2). Vet. Record., 180: 426. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104132Carvalho C.L., Leclerc Duarte E., Monteiro J.M., Afonso C., Pacheco J., Carvalho P., Mendonça P., Botelho A., Albuquerque T., Themudo P., Fevereiro M., Henriques A.M., Santos Barros S., Dias Duarte M. 2017. Progression of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 upon vaccination in anindustrial rabbitry: a laboratorial approach. World Rabbit Sci., 25: 73-85. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2017.5708Cooke B.D., Fenner F. 2002. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease and the biological control of wild rabbits, Oryctolagus Cuniculus, in Australia and New Zealand. Wildlife Res., 29: 689-706. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR02010Dalton K.P., Balseiro A., Juste R.A., Podadera A., Nicieza I., del Llano D., González R., Martin Alonso J.M., Prieto J.M., Parra F., Casais R. 2018. Clinical course and pathogenicity of variant rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in experimentally infected adult and kit rabbits: Significance towards control and spread. Vet. Microbiol., 220: 24-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.04.033Dohoo I., Martin W., Stryhn H. 2003. Measures of disease frequency. In: Veterinary Epidemiologic Research, First Edition, AVC Inc., Charlottetown, Canada, 65-84.Hall R.N., Huang N., Roberts J., Strive T. 2019. Carrion flies as sentinels for monitoring lagovirus activity in Australia. Transboundary Emerg. Dis., 66: 2025-2032. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13250Henning J., Meers J., Davies R., Morris R.S. 2005. Survival of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in the environment. Epidemiol. Infect., 133: 719-730. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268805003766Hurand J. 2016. L'élevage de lapins de chair en France, résultats technico-économiques 2015. Tema, 40.ITAVI. 2019. Situation de la filière cunicole. Novembre 2019. 6 p. Available athttps://www.itavi.asso.fr/content/note-deconjoncture-lapins-7Accessed December 2019.Le Gall-Reculé G., Zwingelstein F., Boucher S., Le Normand B., Plassiart G., Portejoie Y., Decors A., Bertagnoli S., Guérin J.L., Marchandeau S. 2011. Detection of a new variant of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus in France. Vet. Rec., 168: 137- 138. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.d697Le Gall-Reculé G., Lavazza A., Marchandeau S., Bertagnoli S., Zwingelstein F., Cavadini P., Martinelli N., Lombardi G., Guérin J.L., Lemaitre E., Decors A., Boucher S., Le Normand B., Capucci L. 2013. Emergence of a new lagovirus related to Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus. Vet. Res., 44:81. https://doi.org/10.1186/1297-9716-44-81Le Gall-Reculé G., Boucher S. 2017. Connaissances et actualités sur la maladie hémorragique du lapin. In Proc.: 17èmes Journées de la Recherche Cunicole, 21-22 November, 2017. Le Mans, France. 97-109.Le Minor O., Joudou L., Le Moullec T., Beilvert F. 2017. Innocuité et efficacité de la vaccination à 2 et 3 semaines d'âge contre le virus RHDV2 de la maladie hémorragique virale du lapin (VHD). In Proc.:17èmes Journées de la Recherche Cunicole, 21-22 November, 2017. Le Mans, France. 127-130.Le Minor O., Boucher S., Joudou L., Mellet R., Sourice M., Le Moullec T., Nicoler A., Beilvert F., Sigognault-Flochlay A. 2019. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease: experimental study of a recent highly pathogenic GI.2/RJDV2/b strain and evaluation of vaccine efficacy. World Rabbit Sci., 27: 143-156.https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2019.11082Le Pendu J., Abrantes J., Bertagnoli S., Guitton J.S., Le Gall-Reculé G., Lopes A.M., Marchandeau S., Alda F., Almeida T., Célio A. C., Barcena J., Burmakina G., Blanco E., Calvete C., Cavadini P., Cooke B., Dalton K., Mateos M.D., Deptula W., Eden J.S., Wang F., Ferreira C.C., Ferreira P., Foronda P., Gonçalves D., Gavier-Widén D., Hall R., Hukowska-Szematowicz B., Kerr P., Kovaliski J., Lavazza A., Mahar J., Malogolovkin A., Marques R.M., Marques S., Martin-Alonso A., Monterroso P., MorenoS., Mutze G., Naimanis A., Niedzwiedzka-Rystwej P., Peacock D., Parra F., Rocchi M., Rouco C., Ruvoën-Clouet N., Silva E., Silvério D., Strive T., Thompson G., Tokarz-Deptula B., Esteves P. 2017. Proposal for a unified classification system and nomenclature of lagoviruses. J. Gen. Virol., 98: 1658-1666. https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.000840Matthaei M., Kerr P.J., Read A.J., Hick P., Haboury S., Wright J.D., Strive T. 2014. Comparative quantitative monitoring of rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses in rabbit kittens. Virol. J., 11: 109. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-422X-11-109Mc Coll K.A., Merchant J.C., Hardy J., Cooke B.D., Robinson A., Westbury H.A. 2002. Evidence for insect transmission of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus. Epidemiol. Infect., 129: 655-663. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268802007756Neimanis A.S., Larsson Pettersson U., Huang N., Gavier-Widen D., Strive T. 2018. Elucidation of the pathology and tissue distribution of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2) in young and adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Vet. Res., 49:46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-018-0540-zRosell J.M., de la Fuente L.F., Parra F., Dalton K.P., Badiola Sáiz J.I., Pérez de Rozas A., Badiola Díez J.J., Fernández de Luco D., Casal J., Majó N., Casas J., Garriga R., Fernández Magariños X.M. 2019. Myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease: A 30-Year Study of the Occurrence on Commercial Farms in Spain. Animals, 9: 780. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100780Rouco C., Aguayo-Adán J.A., Santoro S., Abrantes J., Delibes-Mateos M. 2019. Worldwide rapid spread of the novel rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (GI.2/RHDV2/b). Transboundary Emerg. Dis., 66: 1762-1764.https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.1318

Caractérisation et impacts de l’empoussièrement sur la santé des travailleurs et des animaux dans les couvoirs de palmipèdes (PALMICOUV)

Les travailleurs dans les bâtiments d’élevage sont exposés à des bioaérosols qui peuvent avoir un impact sur leur santé respiratoire. Dans les couvoirs de palmipèdes, les employés triant et sexant les canetons sont exposés à ces poussières mais leur incidence sur la santé respiratoire est mal connue. Une étude épidémiologique a été réalisée en 2013 dans 14 couvoirs de canards situés dans l’Ouest de la France afin de caractériser l’exposition des travailleurs aux poussières et son éventuel impact sur leur santé. L’exposition de 57 employés travaillant au poste de tri des canetons aux poussières inhalables (diamètre inférieur à 100 µm) et aux poussières alvéolaires (inférieures à 5 µm) a été mesurée avec des capteurs portatifs (CIP 10, ARELCO, France). L’exposition aux poussières de 35 salariés travaillant exclusivement en zone d’incubation, et donc non exposés au duvet, a également été mesurée. L’état sanitaire des canetons était évalué par le biais d’un examen spécifique. L’exposition des personnes en salle de tri était significativement supérieure à celle des travailleurs en zone d’incubation pour les poussières inhalables (14,581±9,958 mg/m3 vs. 0,452 ± 0,984 mg/m3, P<0,001) et alvéolaires (0,469±0,280 mg/m3 vs. 0,117 ± 0,116 mg/m3, P<0,01). Environ deux tiers des salariés travaillant en salle d’éclosion étaient exposés à un taux de poussières inhalables supérieur à la valeur réglementaire maximale, ce qui montre la nécessité de porter un masque respiratoire adapté lors de la manipulation des canetons ainsi que de mettre en œuvre des moyens de protection collectifs dans les couvoirs comme une ventilation appropriée ou des systèmes de récupération de duvet. L’augmentation des concentrations en poussières alvéolaires favorise significativement les risques de souffrir de toux/crachats, de sifflements (uniquement chez les professionnels allergiques) et d’essoufflements. Il apparaît également que les poussières alvéolaires sont liées à l’asthme (risque multiplié par 3) chez les professionnels avec une faible ancienneté. La prévalence importante d’asthme et de rhinite chez les travailleurs suivis, seulement partiellement associée à l’exposition aux poussières, suggère la nécessité d’étudier leur exposition à d’autres polluants potentiels comme les produits de nettoyage et désinfection.Workers in animal buildings are exposed to aerial dusts that impair their respiratory health. In duck hatcheries, persons sorting ducklings are exposed to these aerosols but little is known on the impact of this exposure on their respiratory health. An epidemiological study is presently carried out in 14 French duck hatcheries in order to assess workers’ exposure to dust and its impact on respiratory health. This paper deals with the results on human exposure to dust, since the medical examinations to assess respiratory health of workers will continue until June 2014. The personal exposure to inhalable (diameter < 100 µm) and respiratory (< 5 µm) dusts of 57 workers during sorting of ducklings was measured using personal air samplers (CIP 10, ARELCO, France). For comparison, the exposure of 35 persons working in egg incubation rooms was measured. The sanitary status of ducks was estimated by specific examination. The exposure of workers in the sorting rooms was significantly higher than the one of workers in incubation rooms, for inhalable dust (14.581mg/m3 vs. 0.452 ± 0.984 mg/m3, P<0.001) and for respiratory dust (0.469±0.280 mg/m3 vs. 0.117 ± 0.116 mg/m3, P<0.01). Two-third of the workers sorting ducklings experienced an exposure to inhalable dust higher than the Occupational Exposure Limit (10 mg/m3 over a 8-hour period), demonstrating the need of wearing respiratory mask for the most exposing tasks to dust. The increase of the alveolar dust concentrations increases significantly the risks of cough/spits, of whistlings (only at the allergic professionals) and of breathlessnesses. It also seems that alveolar dusts are bound to the asthma. The study showed worrying data on prevalence of asthma and rhinitis, suggesting that all the exposures should be investigated

Compressed Brown Algae as a Potential Environmental Enrichment Material in Growing Pigs

In barren housing conditions, enrichment materials are given to pigs to improve their welfare. Here, we assessed the suitability of an algae-based cylinder as an enrichment material on the behavioral, physiological, health and productivity welfare indicators of pigs. Algae was compared with metal chains and wood logs. The study involved 444 pigs from two successive batches on one single farm. During the suckling period, half of the pigs received algae and the control pigs received no material. After weaning and until the end of fattening, algae, wood or chains were equally distributed among the pigs. Consumption of algae cylinders was different between pens and between batches. After weaning and during the fattening period, although the results differed between batches, no significant difference was observed in the object manipulations. Salivary cortisol, used as biomarker to measure the stress levels after pig transfers, were similar between the treatments. Enrichment material made from algae had no negative effect on pig health and no effect on performance and body condition. Regarding their characteristics and according to Commission Recommendation (EU) 2016/336 classification, algae cylinders can be categorized as suboptimal enrichment materials, although the present results suggest that it does not significantly improve pig welfare compared to a metal chain, which is categorized as a material of marginal interest

Dust exposure and health of workers in duck hatcheries

Objectives The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to investigate dust exposure and respiratory health of workers in duck hatcheries in western France. Material and Methods Ninety volunteer workers, who work in sorting rooms and/or incubation rooms, participated in exposure assessments and medical examinations. Medical examinations were performed by occupational health practitioners.They filled-in a questionnaire with the workers, followed by a lung function test on each worker. General characteristics and prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms were described in each type of working rooms. Associations between symptoms and exposure (working room or dust level) were studied in GEE multivariate models. Results Overall prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm) and chronic bronchitis were similar or lower than in the reference population. However, prevalence of these symptoms was higher for those working in sorting rooms, that were associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function. Respirable dust was also significantly associated with an increased risk of respiratory symptoms. The prevalence of asthma and rhinitis were well above those in the reference population, but did not vary among working rooms. Descriptive data suggested an occupational origin for some cases. Conclusions Hatchery workers were at increased risk of compromised respiratory health due to dust exposure, particularly those who work in sorting rooms. Asthma and rhinitis were in excess in this population of workers. Thorough clinical examination of these workers should be performed and all exposures assessed

Do Rubber Floor Mats Prevent Lameness in Gestating Sows Housed in Large Groups? A Field Experiment on Three Commercial Farms in France

Lameness and foot disorders are major health and welfare issues in intensive swine production systems. They are exacerbated when sows are housed in large groups on slatted concrete floors during gestation. Our study aimed to assess the effect of rubber mats in the lying area of the gestation pen on lameness and leg health in gestating sows housed in large pens in commercial conditions. The study was conducted on three commercial farms over two successive gestations. A total of 582 Large White × Landrace sows, housed in 10 static groups, were enrolled: 5 groups in pens with rubber mats and 5 groups on slatted concrete floors. Lameness, bursitis, leg injuries, claw growth defects and claw lesions were measured at the beginning, middle and end of each gestation period. The rubber mats decreased the risk of suffering from bursitis, but had no effect on the risk of lameness, leg injuries, claw growth defects or claw lesions. Sows housed on rubber mats were heavily soiled compared with those on slatted concrete floors because the mats were not perforated for slurry evacuation. Locomotion disorders and foot lesions remained prevalent despite the rubber mats in the lying area of the gestation pens, but adding rubber mats in service rooms and farrowing crates may produce better results

Effect of Feed Additives on Productivity and Campylobacter spp. Loads in Broilers Reared under Free Range Conditions

The poultry reservoir, especially broiler meat, is generally recognized as one of the most-important sources for human Campylobacteriosis. The measures to control Campylobacter targeted essentially the primary production level. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments against natural Campylobacter colonization in a French experimental farm of free-range broilers during the whole rearing period. Five commercial products and a combination of two of them were tested and all the products were added to feed or to water at the dose recommended by the suppliers. Campylobacter loads in caeca and on carcasses of broilers at the slaughter were determined by culture methods. Natural contamination of the flock occurred at the end of the indoor rearing period between day 35 and day 42. At day 42, the multispecies probiotic added to the feed reduced the contamination of 0.55 log10 CFU/g (p = 0.02) but was not significant (p &gt; 0.05) at the end of rearing at day 78. However, another treatment, a combination of a cation exchange clay-based product in feed and an organic acid mixture (formic acid, sodium formate, lactic acid, propionic acid) in water, led to a slight but significant reduction of 0.82 ± 0.25 log10 CFU/g (p = 0.02) compared to the control group at day 78. Testing this combination in field conditions in several flocks is needed to determine if it is biologically relevant and if it could be a valuable measure to reduce Campylobacter in broiler flocks

Associations between animal welfare indicators and Campylobacter spp. in broiler chickens under commercial settings: A case study

Few studies have previously investigated how poor animal welfare might be associated with infection of zoonotic pathogens in humans. This paper assesses the predictive value of the presence of Campylobacter spp. in broiler chicken flocks when animal-based measures related to footpad dermatitis, hock burns, body lesions and arthritis are identified under commercial conditions (high density). The study population included 32 flocks analysed on farm and at slaughter, slaughtered between April and August 2008 in six different slaughter plants in Brittany, France. Welfare and health indicators are those indicated by the European legislation and sampling was carried out in the framework of the European baseline survey on the prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler chicken. Caecal contents, sampled both on farm and at slaughter, and carcass skin samples from the neck and breast at slaughter, were investigated for the presence of Campylobacter spp. Logistic models/classification trees were used to estimate the probability of the presence (or absence) of a specific foodbome pathogen in a flock based on specific animal-based measures (or combinations of measures) in order to study the potential relationship between welfare indicators and foodbome pathogen prevalence/incidence levels. On farm, flocks with more than 25% animals with severe lesions on between 25 and 50% of the footpad are predicted to be Campylobacter-positive whereas flocks where less than 13 individuals have arthritis are predicted to be Campylobacter-negative. The error rate on farm and at slaughter was 10 and 4% respectively indicating good predicting abilities. A poor welfare environment may result in stress, which reduces chicken immunocompetence making them more susceptible to Campylobacter spp. An infection with Campylobacter spp may lead to impaired defence and susceptibility to other pathogens which may result in greater intestinal excretion. Poor welfare and high growing rate lead to digestive troubles that lead to litter humidity. Litter humidity that, among other things, causes footpad dermatitis may also influence the horizontal transmission of the Campylobacter spp. infection due to the normal coprophagic behaviour of poultry. Reducing welfare problems by a better management of rearing conditions would not only improve broiler welfare, but it would also decrease the risks of Campylobacter contamination, of carcass condemnations and of economic loss for the poultry industry