title: Associations between biosecurity and outbreaks of canine distemper on Danish mink farms in 2012-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During 8 months from July 2012 to February 2013, a major outbreak of canine distemper involving 64 mink farms occurred on the Danish peninsula of Jutland. The canine distemper outbreak was associated with exposure of farmed mink to infected wild carnivores and could represent a deficit in biosecurity on the mink farms. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and association of specific biosecurity measures with the outbreak. The study was carried out in an epidemiological case-control design. The case group consisted of the 61 farms, which had a confirmed outbreak of canine distemper from July 2012 to February 2013. The control group included 54 farms without an outbreak of canine distemper in 2012 or 2013, selected as the closest geographical neighbour to a case farm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that significantly more control than case farms had vaccinated their mink against canine distemper virus. Mortality was only assessed on the case farms, and there was a non-significantly lower mortality on vaccinated farms than on the non-vaccinated farms. Furthermore, the proportion of farms with observations of wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) inside the farm enclosures were larger for case farms, indicating that the control farms had a better biosecurity or were not equally exposed to canine distemper virus. Generally, all farms had very few specific precautions at the gate entrance in respect to human visitors as well as animals. The use of biosecurity measures was very variable in both case and control farms. Not using plastic boot covers, presence of dogs and cats, presence of demarcated area for changing clothes when entering and leaving the farm area and presence of hand washing facilities significantly lowered the odds of the farm having a canine distemper virus outbreak.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study indicate that consistent use of correct vaccination strategies, implementation of biosecurity measures and limiting human and animal access to the mink farm can be important factors in reducing the risk for canine distemper outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 3, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. louise@gregers-jensen.no.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gregers-Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 8, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. jfa@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Jens Frederik
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Agger
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 3, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. hammer@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Anne Sofie Vedsted
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 3, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. laran@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andresen
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. march@vet.dtu.dk.
authors.forename: Mariann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chrièl
authors.affiliation: Kopenhagen Diagnostics, Kopenhagen Fur, Langagervej 60, 2600, Glostrup, Denmark. eha@kopenhagenfur.com.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hagberg
authors.affiliation: Kopenhagen Diagnostics, Kopenhagen Fur, Langagervej 60, 2600, Glostrup, Denmark. mkj@kopenhagenfur.com.
authors.forename: Mette Kragh
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. mesi@vet.dtu.dk.
authors.forename: Mette Sif
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Bülowsvej 27, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. ckhj@vet.dtu.dk.
authors.forename: Charlotte Kristiane
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hjulsager
authors.affiliation: Kopenhagen Diagnostics, Kopenhagen Fur, Langagervej 60, 2600, Glostrup, Denmark. tst@kopenhagenfur.com.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Struve
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004216:Distemper / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000502:physiology*; D005589:Foxes; D008907:Mink; D012307:Risk Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary*