Slightly acidic electrolyzed water as an alternative disinfection technique for hatching eggs

Abstract

Conventional chemical disinfectants used for egg disinfection could result in toxic residue and endanger hatchability, chick quality, and pullet growth performance. Slightly acidic electrolyzed water ( SAEW ) is known as a novel disinfectant for egg sterilization due to its high efficiency and no residue. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of slightly acidic electrolyzed water and benzalkonium bromide solution ( BBS ) used in the disinfection channel was conducted to assess the microbial count, eggshell quality, and hatchability concomitantly. The results show that the sterilization efficiency of SAEW increased with an increase in available chlorine concentration ( ACC ), spraying volume, and sterilization duration. SAEW with an ACC of 150 mg/L and 10,000 mg/L benzalkonium bromide solution had the same sterilization rates of approximately 86.2% at a spraying volume of 0.5 mL/egg and sterilization duration of 180 s. Neither had significant effect on eggshell strength or thickness. The eggshell cuticle quality in the benzalkonium bromide group was significantly higher than the control group (no disinfection) and the 150 mg/L SAEW group. The embryo weight, relative embryo weight, hatchability, and embryonic mortality in the SAEW group had no significant differences of those in the benzalkonium bromide group. SAEW should be more popular because of its simple preparation, low cost, and no residue. Our results indicate SAEW is an alternative disinfectant for the sterilization of hatching eggs instead of conventional chemical disinfectants, such as benzalkonium bromide, and give a recommendation is using SAEW as a disinfectant with 150 mg/L ACC, 0.5 mL/egg spray volume, and disinfection for 180 s in the novel disinfection channel.

Assessment of three alternative methods for bacterial disinfection of hatching eggs in comparison with conventional approach in commercial broiler hatcheries

“…The disinfection of hatching eggs, is a practice that has been performed for a long time, with studies dating back to the beginning of 1900s showing the usage of disinfection methods in combination with artificial incubation [ 38 ]. There are several hatching egg disinfection methods in use worldwide [ 39 – 41 ] under field conditions that claim to have benefits on a deeper level, such as in the pores, without interfering with hatchability or viability of hatched chicks. In previous studies, an in vitro test was performed to analyze the bacterial disinfection efficacy [ 22 ], and potential adverse effects of various disinfection methods on hatchability and embryo viability were tested [ 23 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Natural Products as an Alternative to Formaldehyde for Disinfection of Fertile Eggs in Commercial Hatcheries

“…From the fundamental manufacture to the point of consumption, eggs and their markets must be subjected to control procedures aimed at achieving the appropriate level of defense for public health. An important aspect to consider is the marketing chain where egg collection, handling, storage, and transport must be supervised, either manually or automatically, with time and temperature also being taken into account [25,26].…”

Effectiveness of environmentally safe products «VetOks-1000», «Sumerian silver» for the prevention of pseudomonosis of poultry embryos associated with bacteriosis

“…Considering P. aeruginosa as a representative of the priority group of bacteria with multiple antibiotic resistance [5] and taking into account the fact of the ability of this bacterium to rapidly develop resistance to disinfectants, the search for new environmentally safe means [6][7][8][9] to combat P. aeruginosa is relevant today in the field of veterinary and humane medicine.…”