Post by Currmudgeon on Nov 25, 2003 11:29:19 GMT -5
There have been periodic discussions about kennel sanitation and disinfection. What should I use? How effective is it?
The selection of disinfecting agents depends on your needs and the method of their application. In general, a disinfectant should be effective, economical, safe to your animals, and minimally destructive to your property. The effectiveness depends considerably, depending on the type of product used and the way it is applied.
Disinfectants can be divided into the following classes based on their chemical composition:
Phenols
Hypochlorites (chlorine)
Iodophors (iodine)
Quaternary ammonium
Formaldehyde
Alkali (lye)
Chlorhexidine (Nolvasan)
Oxidizing Agents (peroxide)
Phenols
Phenols are coal-tar derivatives. They have a characteristic pine-tar odor and turn milky in water. Phenols are effective antibacterial agents, and they are also effective against fungi and many viruses. They also retain more activity in the presence of organic material than iodine or chlorine-containing disinfectants. Common uses in commercial animal production units include: hatchery and equipment sanitation, and footbaths. Examples: Lysol, Pine-Sol, Cresi-400, Environ, and Tek-Trol.
Quaternary Ammonium
Quaternary ammonium compounds are generally odorless, colorless, nonirritating, and deodorizing. They also have some detergent action, and they are good disinfectants. However, some quaternary ammonium compounds are inactivated in the presence of some soaps or soap residues, so careful product selection is important. Their antibacterial activity is reduced in the presence of organic material. Quaternary ammonium compounds are effective against bacteria and somewhat effective against fungi and viruses. These compounds are widely used in commercial hatcheries. Examples: Roccal, Germex, Hi-Lethol, San-O-Fec, Warden, and Zephiran.
Iodophors
Iodine compounds are available as iodophors, which are combinations of elemental iodine and a substance that makes the iodine soluble in water. They are good disinfectants, but do not work well in the presence of organic material. Iodophors are effective against bacteria, fungi, and many viruses. In hatcheries, iodine is used on equipment and walls, and for water disinfection. Iodine is the least toxic of the disinfectants discussed here. Many iodine products can stain clothing and porous surfaces. Examples: Betadine, Iofec, Isodyne, Losan, Tamed Iodine and Weladol.
Hypochlorites
Chlorine compounds are good disinfectants on clean surfaces, but are quickly inactivated by dirt. Chlorine is effective against bacteria and many viruses. These compounds are also much more active in warm water than in cold water. Chlorine solutions can be somewhat irritating to skin and corrosive to metal. They are relatively inexpensive. Examples: Clorox, Chloramine-T, and Halazone.
Oxidizing Agents
Hydrogen peroxide and other oxidizing agents, like peracetic acid and propionic acids or acid peroxygen systems are used in commercial poultry operations. They are active against bacteria, bacterial spores, viruses, and fungi at quite low concentrations.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is active against most microbes. The bactericidal activity of formaldehyde is dependent upon high humidity. Formaldehyde gas has little penetrating power and is immediately dissipated on the surfaces of walls and equipment. Formalin will not penetrate organic matter and adequate cleaning is required before application. Disadvantages to the use of formaldehyde are that the disinfectant is irritating and pungent. Formaldehyde has been used for many years as a soil disinfectant. Five percent formalin (one part commercial
37 percent formaldehyde to 19 parts water) will kill most vegetative bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It will not kill most parasite eggs or coccidia.
Natural Disinfecting Agents
The natural forces that reduce the pathogen load in the environment are important and can often be used to our advantage. These include sunlight, heat, cold, drying
(desiccation) and agitation. The ultraviolet rays of sunlight are tremendously potent in killing microorganisms. This is very helpful outside of buildings, but unfortunately the ultraviolet rays can't pass through glass or roofs or dust. Drying from fresh air and wind will also kill pathogens, particularly when they are exposed in the process of cleaning. In soil, microorganisms that do not cause disease (nonpathogenic bacteria and fungi) produce substances that inhibit the growth or kill pathogenic organisms. Extremes of temperature (below freezing or above 85oF) will kill microorganisms, although susceptibility to temperature changes varies widely.
Following, are a couple of sites that relate to Sanitation-Disinfection Basics. They are written around the poultry industry, but are applicable to all aspects of disinfection, including kennel and clinical disinfection. Most of the information, presented above, has been cribbed from these sites.
animalscience.ucdavis.edu/Avian/pfs27.htm
www.wvu.edu/~exten/infores/pubs/livepoul/pfs4.pdf
The selection of disinfecting agents depends on your needs and the method of their application. In general, a disinfectant should be effective, economical, safe to your animals, and minimally destructive to your property. The effectiveness depends considerably, depending on the type of product used and the way it is applied.
Disinfectants can be divided into the following classes based on their chemical composition:
Phenols
Hypochlorites (chlorine)
Iodophors (iodine)
Quaternary ammonium
Formaldehyde
Alkali (lye)
Chlorhexidine (Nolvasan)
Oxidizing Agents (peroxide)
Phenols
Phenols are coal-tar derivatives. They have a characteristic pine-tar odor and turn milky in water. Phenols are effective antibacterial agents, and they are also effective against fungi and many viruses. They also retain more activity in the presence of organic material than iodine or chlorine-containing disinfectants. Common uses in commercial animal production units include: hatchery and equipment sanitation, and footbaths. Examples: Lysol, Pine-Sol, Cresi-400, Environ, and Tek-Trol.
Quaternary Ammonium
Quaternary ammonium compounds are generally odorless, colorless, nonirritating, and deodorizing. They also have some detergent action, and they are good disinfectants. However, some quaternary ammonium compounds are inactivated in the presence of some soaps or soap residues, so careful product selection is important. Their antibacterial activity is reduced in the presence of organic material. Quaternary ammonium compounds are effective against bacteria and somewhat effective against fungi and viruses. These compounds are widely used in commercial hatcheries. Examples: Roccal, Germex, Hi-Lethol, San-O-Fec, Warden, and Zephiran.
Iodophors
Iodine compounds are available as iodophors, which are combinations of elemental iodine and a substance that makes the iodine soluble in water. They are good disinfectants, but do not work well in the presence of organic material. Iodophors are effective against bacteria, fungi, and many viruses. In hatcheries, iodine is used on equipment and walls, and for water disinfection. Iodine is the least toxic of the disinfectants discussed here. Many iodine products can stain clothing and porous surfaces. Examples: Betadine, Iofec, Isodyne, Losan, Tamed Iodine and Weladol.
Hypochlorites
Chlorine compounds are good disinfectants on clean surfaces, but are quickly inactivated by dirt. Chlorine is effective against bacteria and many viruses. These compounds are also much more active in warm water than in cold water. Chlorine solutions can be somewhat irritating to skin and corrosive to metal. They are relatively inexpensive. Examples: Clorox, Chloramine-T, and Halazone.
Oxidizing Agents
Hydrogen peroxide and other oxidizing agents, like peracetic acid and propionic acids or acid peroxygen systems are used in commercial poultry operations. They are active against bacteria, bacterial spores, viruses, and fungi at quite low concentrations.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is active against most microbes. The bactericidal activity of formaldehyde is dependent upon high humidity. Formaldehyde gas has little penetrating power and is immediately dissipated on the surfaces of walls and equipment. Formalin will not penetrate organic matter and adequate cleaning is required before application. Disadvantages to the use of formaldehyde are that the disinfectant is irritating and pungent. Formaldehyde has been used for many years as a soil disinfectant. Five percent formalin (one part commercial
37 percent formaldehyde to 19 parts water) will kill most vegetative bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It will not kill most parasite eggs or coccidia.
Natural Disinfecting Agents
The natural forces that reduce the pathogen load in the environment are important and can often be used to our advantage. These include sunlight, heat, cold, drying
(desiccation) and agitation. The ultraviolet rays of sunlight are tremendously potent in killing microorganisms. This is very helpful outside of buildings, but unfortunately the ultraviolet rays can't pass through glass or roofs or dust. Drying from fresh air and wind will also kill pathogens, particularly when they are exposed in the process of cleaning. In soil, microorganisms that do not cause disease (nonpathogenic bacteria and fungi) produce substances that inhibit the growth or kill pathogenic organisms. Extremes of temperature (below freezing or above 85oF) will kill microorganisms, although susceptibility to temperature changes varies widely.
Following, are a couple of sites that relate to Sanitation-Disinfection Basics. They are written around the poultry industry, but are applicable to all aspects of disinfection, including kennel and clinical disinfection. Most of the information, presented above, has been cribbed from these sites.
animalscience.ucdavis.edu/Avian/pfs27.htm
www.wvu.edu/~exten/infores/pubs/livepoul/pfs4.pdf
