Biosafety and biosecurity requirements for Orientia spp. diagnosis and research: Recommendations for risk-based biocontainment, work practices and the case for reclassification to risk group 2

• Main Authors: Stuart D. Blacksell, Matthew T. Robinson, Paul N. Newton, Soiratchaneekorn Ruanchaimun, Jeanne Salje, Tri Wangrangsimakul, Matthew D. Wegner, Mohammad Yazid Abdad, Allan M. Bennett, Allen L. Richards, John Stenos, Nicholas P.J. Day
• Other Authors: Public Health England
• Format: Article
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Medicine
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/51245
• Institution: Mahidol University

© 2019 The Author(s). Scrub typhus is an important arthropod-borne disease causing significant acute febrile illness by infection with Orientia spp. Using a risk-based approach, this review examines current practice, the evidence base and regulatory requirements regarding matters of biosafety and biosecurity, and presents the case for reclassification from Risk Group 3 to Risk Group 2 along with recommendations for safe working practices of risk-based activities during the manipulation of Orientia spp. in the laboratory. We recommend to reclassify Orientia spp. to Risk Group 2 based on the classification for RG2 pathogens as being moderate individual risk, low community risk. We recommend that low risk activities, can be performed within a biological safety cabinet located in a Biosafety Level (BSL) 2 core laboratory using standard personal protective equipment. But when the risk assessment indicates, such as high concentration and volume, or aerosol generation, then a higher biocontainment level is warranted. For, the majority of animal activities involving Orientia spp., Animal BSL 2 (ABSL2) is recommended however where high risk activities are performed including necropsies, Animal BSL (ABSL3) is recommended.