Source: Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 4/2/15


As the number of positive cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDV) continues to increase, a new product has become available to producers to assist with disinfection protocols.

Typically a disinfectant becomes neutralized in the presence of organic matter such as swine feces and manure. The National Pork Board recently published a study on the use and effectiveness of accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP) in cold temperature environments (-10 degrees Fahrenheit). Although washing, disinfecting and drying the trailer is still the gold standard to greatly reduce the spread of disease, when time is limited to complete a full wash and disinfection process there is another option with the AHP product.

The study was conducted in situations with both a heavy and light fecal load and at standing times of 40 and 60 minutes, according to a news release from Michigan State University.

Researchers found that PEDV was inactivated in the presence of light and heavy fecal contamination and that concentrations of 1:16 and 1:32 of AHP disinfectant in a 10 percent propylene glycol solution were effective. Contact times of 40 minutes and 60 minutes also were effective at inactivating the virus.

The researchers suggested that when washing, disinfecting and drying the trailer are not possible, producers may use a minimum of a 1:32 concentration of AHP disinfectant in a 10 percent propylene glycol solution with 40 minutes of contact time. This option gives producers and transporters more flexibility in the disinfection processes for their transport vehicles.

An earlier controlled study performed by a research team at Iowa State University demonstrated that under simulated field conditions (those normally seen in swine trailers) the product was able to kill 100 percent of the PEDV in the presence of both light and high (up to 25 percent) amounts of fecal matter.

Other benefits include the fact that AHP is hydrogen peroxide-based, therefore it does not require the use of personal protection equipment when applied. It also acts as a cleaner or detergent that reduces the need for pre-cleaning prior to disinfection.

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