Testing of a new disinfectant process for poultry viruses

The chemical compound metam-sodium was tested at three concentrations for the ability to inactivate the infectivity of low-pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), with virus-contaminated chicken litter used as the substrate. LPAIV was inactivated within 1 hr after the addition of metam-sodium independent of the concentration used. IBDV was not inactivated with the lowest amount of metam-sodium, but at higher concentrations the virus was inactivated within 1 hr after application. The results show that metam-sodium is able to penetrate chicken litter and inactivate enveloped as well as nonenveloped viruses because of its ability to form the active compound methyl isothiocyanate, which acts as a fumigant.