Chapter 32 : Special Considerations for Agriculture Pathogen Biosafety

Abstract:

This chapter describes the facility requirements and work practices of biosafety level 3 agriculture (BSL-3 Ag). This BSL, unique to agriculture, was developed to protect the environment from economic, high-risk pathogens in situations where studies employ large animals or other situations where facility barriers, which normally serve as secondary barriers, must serve as primary containment. In agriculture, special biocontainment features are required for certain types of research involving high-consequence livestock pathogens, in animal species or other research where the room provides primary containment. The descriptions and requirements for BSL-3 Ag studies are based on the use of high-risk organisms in animal systems or other types of agriculture research where the facility barriers, usually considered secondary barriers, now act as primary barriers. There are circumstances where certain agents, typically handled at BSL-3 Ag for work with agricultural animals, may be studied in an enhanced BSL-3 laboratory or enhanced ABSL-3 for work with small animals for which primary containment devices can be utilized. Filter testing is intended to be completed in a manner consistent with industry standards for certification of HEPA filters in biological safety cabinets (BSCs). An alternate procedure may be used as outlined in the USDA-ARS Facility Design Standards (USDA-ARS, 2002).