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Transport of infected birds is thought to play a key role in the spread of avian influenza (AI) on poultry farms during epizootic outbreaks. Ensuring efficient cleaning and disinfection (C&D) of equipment used for transport is needed to prevent the spread of AI. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy against the AI virus of C&D protocols applied on trucks and crates used for the transport of ducks during the H5N8 AI outbreaks in France in 2017. In 3 abattoirs, 16 transport vehicles and their crates were sampled by swabbing to detect the influenza type A genome by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Vehicles were tested before and after decontamination, which was carried out in accordance with the abattoirs' protocols. A total of 86 samples out of 299 collected before C&D were positive for AI (29%); 7 trucks out of 16 transported crates detected positive for AI. After C&D, the AI genome was detected in 56 samples out of 308 (18%). Ten trucks were loaded with a shipment of AI-positive crates. Eight vehicles were detected positive in the cabin, on the truck bed, and/or on the wheels. Despite reinforcement of C&D, the efficacy of decontamination was variable among slaughterhouses. The efficacy seemed to depend on the initial contamination load, C&D protocols, and how the protocol is implemented. Breaks in biosecurity measures led to frequent contamination of trucks after C&D. Observational studies during animal health crises are of interest to analyze practices in emergency conditions and to put forward measures aimed at increased preparedness.

This study was designed to improve the hatching performance, chick robustness and poultry health in the event of long-term egg storage and suboptimal age of the reproductive flock. A total of 9,600 eggs from one young breeder flock (28 weeks of age, batch B) and 9,600 eggs from an older breeder flock (59 weeks of age, batch E) were used (ROSS 308). Each batch was separated into three sub-groups and stored for 14 days. The first sub-group of eggs (Cool, group C) was stored at 11.6°C. The second sub-group of eggs (Warm, group W) was stored at 18.3°C with two pre-incubation on days 6 and 10 of the storage period. The final sub-group of eggs (Control, group Ct) was stored at 18.3°C throughout the storage period. Eggs were similarly incubated and hatched birds were raised on the same experimental farm. In both batches, embryonic development was significantly more advanced in W eggs than in C and Ct eggs ( p

ABSTRACT: In 2021, France faced large avian influenza outbreaks, like in 2016 and 2017. Controlling these outbreaks required the preventive depopulation of a large number of duck farms. A previous study in 2017 showed that the quality of decontamination of trucks and transport crates used for depopulation was often insufficient. A new study was then set up to evaluate cleaning and disinfection (C&D) of trucks and crates used for duck depopulation and whether practices had changed since 2017. Three methods were used to assess decontamination: 1) detection of avian influenza virus (AIV) genome, 2) visual inspection of cleanliness, and 3) microbial counts, considering that 2 and 3 are commonly used in abattoirs. Another objective of the study was to evaluate the correlation between results obtained with the 3 methods. In 5 abattoirs, 8 trucks and their crates were sampled by swabbing to detect AIV genome by rRT-PCR before and after decontamination. Visual cleanliness scores and coliform counts were also determined on crates after C&D. Trucks and crates were decontaminated according to the abattoirs’ protocols. Before C&D, 3 quarters of crates (59/79) and 7 of 8 trucks were positive for AIV genome. C&D procedures were reinforced in 2021 compared to 2017; use of detergent solution and warm water were more common. Nevertheless, 28% of the crates were positive for AIV genome after C&D, despite the fact that cleaning scores and microbiological counts were satisfactory for 84% and 91% of the crates, respectively. No correlation was observed between results for AIV genome detection and results from visual control or from coliform counts. Abattoirs are encouraged to use environmental sampling coupled with AIV genome detection to monitor the quality of cleaning and disinfection of trucks and crates during AI outbreaks. Reinforcement of biosecurity measures at abattoirs is still needed to avoid residual contamination of the equipment and cross-contamination during the decontamination process.

International organizations encourage the monitoring of antimicrobial use and resistance in bacteria to manage and minimize further development of antimicrobial resistance. In France, the public policy plan Ecoantibio has underlined the need to collect data on antimicrobial use in all livestock production chains from direct, on-farm studies. To gain better knowledge on antimicrobial use in the aquaculture industry, we therefore conducted a cross-sectional study in 2014–2015 on a representative sample of 100 French freshwater salmonid farms. The health issues and medicinal products used during the reference year (full year preceding the visit, 2013 or 2014), were recorded by administering an on-farm questionnaire and by consulting documents, feed mills and prescribing veterinarians. Rainbow trout fry syndrome (RTFS), the most frequently reported disease, affected 41% of the fish farms at least once in the previous year. Parasitic diseases were also a cause of major concern, and finally furunculosis affecting 20% of the farms. Two-thirds (65%) of the farmers used antimicrobials at least once during this preceding year. Florfenicol was the most frequently used antimicrobial, mainly to treat outbreaks of RTFS, but it represented less than 20% of the treated fish biomass. Antimicrobials regarded as critical for public health reasons were used only exceptionally.

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.

In southwestern France, during the winter of 2016–2017, the rapid spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 outbreaks despite the implementation of routine control measures, raised the question about the potential role of airborne transmission in viral spread. As a first step to investigate the plausibility of that transmission, air samples were collected inside, outside and downwind from infected duck and chicken facilities. H5 avian influenza virus RNA was detected in all samples collected inside poultry houses, at external exhaust fans and at 5 m distance from poultry houses. For three of the five flocks studied, in the sample collected at 50–110 m distance, viral genomic RNA was detected. The measured viral air concentrations ranged between 4.3 and 6.4 log10 RNA copies per m3, and their geometric mean decreased from external exhaust fans to the downwind measurement point. These findings are in accordance with the possibility of airborne transmission and question the procedures for outbreak depopulation.

Beak trimming in laying hens limits the negative consequences of injurious pecking, but could be prohibited by future regulations. This study assessed a combination of management strategies during the rearing period (objects, perches, music, human presence) and laying period (scratching mats, objects, feed fiber supplementation) to raise non-beak-trimmed animals. The welfare and laying performances of beak-trimmed (T) and non-beak-trimmed (NT) ISA Brown birds were compared between groups with (E) or without (NE) these strategies, with or without fiber supplementation in the diet during laying period. Fiber supplementation did not provide any benefit on pecking-related problems. In comparison with NT-NE birds, NT-E birds had lower mortality, were less fearful of a novel object, and had a better feather cover, without a negative impact on productivity (same laying rate and egg quality). Although this study showed advantages of beak trimming (T birds had higher body weights, laying rates and lower hen mortality than NT birds), it highlighted related problems (increasing pullet mortality, decreasing early weights and increasing beak defects). This study proposes practical solutions to limit the consequences of injurious pecking in non-beak-trimmed animals.