ViralFx™ In Swine Care
ViralFx™ In Swine Care Biosecurity And Pig Farm DisinfectionThe primary risk factor for introduction of disease to a swine herd is direct exposure to infected pigs. Another risk factor is exposure of pigs to people who may act as mechanical vectors of porcine pathogens. Consequently, many pork production facilities require that personnel, visitors, and veterinarians disinfect their boots before entering facilities, and also when moving between groups of pigs of different ages or health status.
Literature on boot bath use is scarce and usually limited to the proper procedure. The effective utilization of boot baths consisted of cleaning boots in a preliminary bath filled with dilute ViralFx™, followed by immersion of clean boots in a second bath filled with detergent to a depth of 15 cm, for at least one minute. We suggest that large units prepare new boot baths daily, or when they are visibly contaminated, and that small units prepare new boot baths every 3 days.
Boot Baths
Farm personnel use boot baths to prevent mechanical transmission of pathogens among groups of pigs. However, boot bath maintenance in most facilities is poor, and boot baths are often grossly contaminated with organic matter. People commonly avoid stepping into boot baths, or simply step through the bath without stopping to clean their boots. The result confirm, that simply stepping through or standing in a boot bath without first removing visible organic debris from boots does not provide effective boot disinfection.
ViralFx™ is a suitable disinfectant for use in boot baths when used appropriately. All visible organic material must be removed from the surface of the boot to achieve efficacy. After removal of organic material, ViralFx™ rapidly disinfected the boot in most cases.
Although there was no difference in the number of bacteria cultured when manure was scrubbed from boots while standing in a boot bath of 1% ViralFx™ compared to scrubbing the manure off with water and then dipping in a boot bath of 1% ViralFx™, the latter protocol is more advantageous. The disinfectant in the boot bath will remain free of organic material and will need to be changed less often if personnel use a hose and (or) brush to remove manure from boots prior to dipping in disinfectant. Thus, producers will have decreased labor and disinfectant costs.
Conclusion
Removal of visible organic material from boots using a hose and (or) brush and then dipping clean boots in a boot bath of 1% ViralFx™ provides an economical and practical alternative for effective use of boot baths on farms.
Stepping through or standing in ViralFx™ without removing organic debris first was ineffective in disinfecting boots.
Controls
Viruses of Hog Cholera, Swine influenza, Porcine Parvovirus, Pseudorabies, Porcine Reproductive and RespiratorySyndrome (PRRS), RotoviralDiarrhea, African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease. Bacteria of Pleuropneumonia, Treponema hyodysenteriae, and Clostridium perfringens. Fungi: Fusarium moniliforme. General Instructions: Remove swine and pre-clean the area to be treated. ViralFx™ at 1% solution is recommended for cleaning and disinfecting farrowing units, nurseries, finisher houses, processing plants, and agricultural production equipment such as trucks, waterproof footwear (such as rubber boots and associated livestock equipment and instruments). ViralFx™ at 0.5-1% solution is recommended for use in fogging (wet misting) operations or as a supplemental measure either before or after regular cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Fog (wet mist) until the area is moist using automatic foggers according to manufacturer’s use directions. Rinse foggers and sprayers with water following use.