Testing of a new disinfectant process for poultry viruses
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Published on: November 6, 2013
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
Abstract:
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.
Insights
Metam-sodium effectively inactivates avian influenza virus and infectious bursal disease virus in chicken litter. This fumigant compound, methyl isothiocyanate, works rapidly against both enveloped and nonenveloped viruses.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Agricultural Chemistry
- Environmental Microbiology
Background:
- Avian influenza virus (LPAIV) and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) pose significant threats to poultry health and industry.
- Effective disinfection of poultry litter is crucial for disease control and biosecurity.
- Metam-sodium is a soil fumigant with potential applications in animal agriculture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of metam-sodium in inactivating LPAIV and IBDV.
- To determine the impact of metam-sodium concentration and contact time on virus infectivity.
- To assess the penetration and fumigant action of metam-sodium in chicken litter.
Main Methods:
- Virus inactivation assays using low-pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV).
- Application of metam-sodium at three different concentrations to virus-contaminated chicken litter.
- Incubation and subsequent infectivity testing of treated samples.
Main Results:
- Metam-sodium rapidly inactivated LPAIV within 1 hour, irrespective of concentration.
- IBDV inactivation was observed at higher metam-sodium concentrations within 1 hour.
- Metam-sodium demonstrated efficacy against both enveloped (LPAIV) and nonenveloped (IBDV) viruses in chicken litter.
Conclusions:
- Metam-sodium is an effective disinfectant for poultry litter, capable of inactivating critical avian viruses.
- The compound's active form, methyl isothiocyanate, acts as a fumigant, enabling penetration and inactivation of viruses within the litter matrix.
- These findings support the use of metam-sodium as a biosecurity measure in poultry farming to mitigate viral disease transmission.
