Disinfection…Green vs. Blue vs. Brown vs. Clear

By Paula Strasser

Pippin’s Roost Exotics

Hygiene and disinfection of equipment could take up an entire session by itself and this is really only a simplified overview. But, briefly, disease in neonatal birds can be a tremendous problem. Baby birds have immature immune systems and even they are parent-raised for a period of time after hatching, extreme care should be taken to avoid disease problems when transferring babies from the nest to the brooder.

Most diseases are caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, mycobacteria, or yeasts.  While this in not a microbiology class, a quick overview of the disease transmission process is pertinent.  In order to cause a disease, the disease organism must a) enter a susceptible bird, b) travel to the target cell, c) destroy that cell (by replication inside the cell, as in viruses, or outright attack as in bacteria) d) replicate itself, e) attack and destroy other cells in a specific organ or system, and f) find more susceptible hosts.

Any break in the transmission chain from bird to bird will stop the disease from claiming victims.  At some point in the transmission chain, the disease organism leaves the infected bird and must survive long enough in the outside environment to infect a new host, this is the easiest point at which to break the disease chain.  If the disease organism can’t come into contact with an uninfected host it cannot replicate.  Contact with a new host can be stopped by physically removing the organism from the environment (washing), permanently sealing the organisms to a surface (painting), or by destroying the receptors on the outside of the organism that allow it to attack and penetrate the host’s cells (disinfection).

Your first line of defense against disease organisms is always washing.  Washing physically removes the disease organisms or removes organic debris that may affect the ability of a disinfectant to do its job.  Hands should be washed before feeding babies or handling clean equipment, after feeding babies and washing equipment, between feeding babies, any time at all.  A simple soap is good enough, though there are anti-bacterial soaps on the market.  The easier an object is to clean, the more likely it is that it will be cleaned and properly disinfected.  Food bowls, utensils and the baby bowls used in the brooder should be dishwasher-proof or disposable.  Disposable bedding is preferred, and brooders and cages should be constructed so that they can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Some Definitions

Disinfectant:  Will destroy many of the disease organisms present on a surface in the environment.  The ability of a disinfectant to destroy disease organisms depends on many factors including the number and types of disease organisms, the type of disinfectant, the concentration, temperature and pH of the disinfectant solution, the amount of other organic debris present, the material on which the disease organism is present, and the amount of time the active ingredient in the disinfectant is in contact with the disease organism.  Not all disinfectants destroy all disease organisms, but all disinfectants are toxic to one extent or another.  The choice of a disinfectant depends on a balance between cost, effectiveness, and safety for both babies and the people who care for them.

Sterilant: Destroys all microbes including heat-resistant bacterial spores.  It is usually a physical process like autoclaving or using boiling water, but solutions containing chlorine or gluteraldehyde are frequently labeled as chemical sterilants.

Germicide: Kills a specific organism or group of organisms as indicated on the label.

Sanitizer: Simply reduces contamination on the surface of an object to an acceptable level.  Most don’t leave harmful residues, but they do no kill every disease-causing organism.

Kinds of Disinfectants

Soaps and Detergents: These reduce the attraction of greases and dirt to an object.  In some cases they are combined with specific disinfectants to produce a particularly effective cleaner.  Dish sops and detergents are excellent for cleaning equipment.  Some contain anti-bacterial compounds, but these are in contact with skin or objects for such a brief period that there is some doubt about their usefulness.  It should be noted that the common anti-bacterial substance in the dishwashing liquids is the same as that used in deodorants and deodorant soap.  There has also been some concern that the overuse of anti-bacterials encourages the growth of resistant bacteria.

Chlorinated Compounds (Household Bleach – the clear stuff): Sodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in household bleach.  Chlorines are extremely powerful oxidizers that, depending on their concentration, can destroy many, if not most, micro-organisms, including bacteria and viruses.  They do, however, have a limited ability to destroy bacteria and fungi spores.  Organic debris severely reduces the effectiveness of bleach, which must remain on a surface for approximately 10 minutes to disinfect properly.

    Advantages: Bleach is cheap, easy to obtain, is a broad-spectrum disinfectant and has a low residual toxicity at a 1:32 dilution (1/2 cup per gallon).

    Disadvantages: Bleach is rapidly inactivated by organic debris, sunlight, and evaporation.  It requires frequent mixing to maintain an active solution.  Chlorine solutions and fumes are toxic to living tissues, irritate eyes, skin, and mucus membranes, and chlorine is implicated as a powerful carcinogen.  It is corrosive to metals.  Good ventilation is crucial when it is used, and care must be taken to rinse and dry equipment before exposing chicks.

Chlorhexidene gluconates (Nolvasan – the blue stuff): These are frequently used as disinfectant for inanimate objects and as an antiseptic for skin.  They are good against many bacteria, yeast (Candida spp), and some viruses.  Their effectiveness against pseudomonas and mycobacteria spores is limited, and they are not reliable against most viruses.

    Advantages: Chlorhexidenes are relatively non-toxic and non-corrosive, and are considered safe to use on objects like syringes and dishes that come into contact with babies.

    Disadvantages: Solutions have a limited stability, and must be made fresh daily.  They are ineffective in the presence of organic debris.  It has been suggested that one type, hexachlorophene, is a potent carcinogen and has been, for the most part, removed from the market.

Gluteralldehydes (Roccal – the green stuff): Gluteraldehydes rapidly inactive most bacteria, mycobacteria, many viruses and chlamydia, even in the presence of organic debris.

    Advantages: Working solutions are exceptionally stable, lasting 2 weeks to a month in normal usage.

   Disadvantages: Gluteraldehydes cause irritation to the eyes, respiratory tract, and skin, particularly during long term usage.  They should never be used with ammonia, phenols or oxidizing agents such as bleach.

Iodine (Betadine, Vanodine V-18 – the brown stuff): Iodine is an oxidizing agent frequently used as an antiseptic.  It is most commonly found mixed with detergents, which ‘tames” the compounds, making them less caustic and improving their microbial activity.  Iodine is effective for many bacteria, some viruses and fungi.  However, it is not effective against all pseudomonas spp.

    Advantages: Toxic vapors from iodine are limited, and in working concentrations when used for disinfecting feeding implements, it is relatively safe.  Iodine solutions change color from dark to pale when its effectiveness deteriorates, indicating that fresh solution is needed.  It is non-corrosive to plastics.

    Disadvantages: iodine solutions are unstable in light, and must be stored in a dark place.  They are expensive to buy, though when diluted to working solution strength, the cost is about the same as Nolvasan, Roccal or other disinfectants 9other than bleach).  Iodine is rapidly inactivated by organic debris.  Iodine does discolor syringes and other plastic.

Phenols:  These can inactivate many bacteria, including pseudomonas, cycobacteria, fungi and some viruses.

    Advantages: Phenols are inexpensive and easy to rinse from surfaces.

    Disadvantages:  The activity of phenols is variable, depending on the presence of organic matter, temperature, concentration, and pH of the solution.  They are irritants to skin, eyes and the respiratory tract and are potentially toxic to reptiles and cats.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (One-stroke Environ – sometimes green, sometimes clear): These compounds are formed by the addition of organic compounds to ammonia.  They may function as detergents and aid in the removal of organic debris.  They inactivate many types of bacteria, viruses and chlamydia.

    Advantages: Quaternary ammoniums are inexpensive at working concentrations, relatively safe for the bird keeper and work well on floors, walls and other surfaces.

    Disadvantages: They are inactivated by organic debris and other soaps and soap residue.  They are difficult to rise off, and leave surfaces slimy.  Ingestion and possibly breathing fumes can lead to respiratory paralysis and death.  Quaternary ammonium compounds are not recommended for objects that come into direct contact with birds such as syringes and food bowls.

Wood Tar Distillates (Pine-Sol): These are common, easy to find, easy to use, cheap and not very good for disinfecting.  They are, however, quite good for cleaning objects prior to disinfecting.

Your choice of disinfectant regime should be based on your situation, what diseases may be prevalent in your flock, nursery or water system, and what your budget will allow.  My suggestion is to use a three-pronged approach.

1) Always wash first, to remove organic debris and micro-organisms.  Food bowls and utensils can and should be placed in a dishwasher, where high water temperatures will sanitize them.

 2) Use a low residue, low-toxicity disinfectant, such as Nolvasan or Vanodine V-18 for soaking your syringes, feeding forceps and other equipment between feedings.  Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for changing solutions to maximize the disinfectant’s effectiveness.  Rinse them well before using them.

3) Use another low-residue disinfectant, such as bleach for disinfecting brooders, incubators, and other bird room equipment and surfaces.  Remember to allow the proper standing time before drying and or rinsing.  Allow equipment to dry and air out thoroughly before using it for babies.  If you do end up with a disease problem, you and your veterinarian can choose the most effective disinfectant to use.

Reprinted with permission from the author and American Federation of Aviculture.

AFA Proceedings book, Denver, Colorado 1999 Convention.

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