Use of disinfectants in zoos and game parks

Disinfection is used in the animal quarters of zoos and game parks as an adjunct to physical cleaning and the removal of potentially contaminated materials. Disinfection is particularly useful in reducing infection risks in young animal nursery facilities, and in routine cleaning operations of animal quarters and feeding utensils. Specific disinfectants may be selected for certain known microbial contaminants following an infectious disease outbreak. For example, premises contaminated by foot and mouth disease virus are usually disinfected with 2% sodium hydroxide (lye). The disinfectants most commonly used in zoo operations usually have a broad spectrum of microbicidal activities, such as o-phenylphenol salts, especially sodium o-phenylphenol. Equally popular for routine cleaning and sanitizing operations in zoos are quaternary ammonium compounds and chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite). It is important to remember that many disinfectants are protoplasmic poisons, or may be caustic or corrosive. Animals must usually be excluded from facilities being disinfected and premises should be rinsed thoroughly, after a suitable environmental exposure time to such disinfectants, before animals are allowed to return.