No abstract

Veterinary disinfectants are a vital component in the control of animal and zoonotic disease strategies, both in the everyday prevention of disease and in controlling the spread of infections during outbreaks. Effective cleaning and disinfection is a key factor in disease control within farming industries and can also impact on productivity, feed conversion and welfare. A range of different methods have been used to assess the efficacy of disinfectants within farming environments, using controlled laboratory studies, structured field trials and observations of on-farm practices. These studies generally result in the same conclusions, with a reduction in bacterial load occurring after cleaning and disinfection, with a range of different disinfectants, although the aldehyde-based disinfectants were the most effective on surfaces. Chlorocresol-based disinfectants were most effective in boot dip style models. All disinfectants performed better when organic matter had been removed. Cleaning and disinfection plays a key role in the control of disease on farms, but it is not a stand-alone activity, and will be most effective when combined with high levels of farm biosecurity.