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New research shows heating can replace disinfection chemicals in poultry
RESEARCHERS at the University of Delaware tested the efficacy of heat to disinfect poultry houses.
The researchers were specifically examining whether heat treatment was comparable to chemi- cal disinfection protocols, and the feasibility of heat treatment as an interven- tion against poultry dis- eases such as Newcastle disease, avian influenza and salmonella.
The study’s objective was to determine the ap- propriate temperature, time and humidity nec- essary to decontaminate poultry houses.
Researchers involved al- so wanted clarity on how much organic matter (in terms of depth) could be treated with heat alone.
The study team wanted to see if this method was
suitable for field condi- tions.
Results from the study demonstrated maintaining the required temperature profile in the entire poul- try house was a critical element of decontamina- tion.
They also found heat treating during colder months was not as effec- tive, since the soil did not reach a high enough tem- perature to neutralise the bacteria and viruses.
The researchers were able to show that heat treatment was effective in thin layers of soil and or- ganic matter (about 2.5cm or less).
Therefore, it is an effec- tive means of disinfection after litter and carcass re- moval, since only a thin layer of organic material would remain in the poul- try house.
However, the research- ers noted that if heat treat- ment occurred before car- cass and litter disposal, the litter should be viewed as contaminated waste since the heat treatment may not have been com- pletely effective.
Based on these results, the researchers concluded heat treatment could re- duce the number of mi- cro-organisms in poultry litter.
However, the method may not be effective in colder weather or if there is a deep layer of sub- strate.
Their conclusion also stated producers should ensure almost all organic material be removed from the facility prior to heat treatment for it to be ef- fective.
Read the full summary at uspoultry.org
Australian leads global forum to improve animal health
AUSTRALIA’S Del- egate at the World Or- ganisation for Animal Health (OIE) Dr Mark Schipp is chairing the 87th General Session of the World Assembly of National Delegates of the OIE in Paris.
Dr Schipp, who is the elected president of the OIE World Assembly and also Australia’s chief veterinary officer, is the first Australian to chair the session for 30 years.
“The assembly is an opportunity to discuss the current animal health situation worldwide and methods to mitigate risks and threats,” Dr Schipp said.
“This includes adopt- ing new intergovern- mental standards for an- imal health and welfare.
“For example, we ex- pect a new chapter on disease prevention and control and another on measures to assess animal welfare to be adopted.
“An updated standard for rabies virus is also expected to be adopt- ed.”
This year’s program includes sessions on how external factors (such as climate change, conflicts, socio-eco- nomics and trading pat- terns) will impact vet- erinary services.
“Participants will also discuss the global situa- tion relating to African swine fever and antimi- crobial resistance, and the importance of bio- security for aquatic ani- mals’ health systems for a sustainable aquacul- ture,” Dr Schipp said.
“It is a tremendous honour to chair the World Assembly of Na- tional Delegates of the OIE and contribute to the important animal health and trade mat-
ters that directly affect Australia.
“It is an opportunity to enhance Australia’s reputation as a leader in animal health and bio- security.”
The assembly brings together around 1000 participants from all OIE member countries and international and regional partners.
For more information, visit oiegeneralsession. com/en/press
Dr Mark Schipp
Antimicrobial stewardship – the path to least resistance
☛ from P14
many decades of infec- tion prevention and con-
trol measures (including vaccination programs and biosecurity initiatives), combined with high stand- ards of husbandry, nutri- tion and environmental controls, and buttressed by
a conservative regulatory system that has not permit-
ted the approval in poul-
try of many antimicrobial agents now considered of critical importance in hu- www.poultrynews.com.au
man medicine (including colistin, fluoroquinolones and third and fourth-gen- eration cephalosporins), is undoubtedly a significant contributor to the low lev- els of AMR now evident in isolates from meat chick- ens and from layer envi- ronments.
However, complacency is not an option.
Continued vigilance reinforced by AMS pro- grams will help protect the rare environment of low AMR, allowing early iden-
tification of any changes in resistance status as alerts to investigate risk mitiga- tion measures, or assur- ance of the effectiveness of production practices.
Acknowledgments: The authors have received funding from AgriFu- tures to develop an in- dependent AMS verifica- tion system for ACMF. S.W. Page and D.J. Trott
Extracted from the Aus- tralian Poultry Science Symposium 2019 pro- ceedings.
National Poultry Newspaper, June 2019 – Page 15