Abstract

MECHANICAL CLEANING AND DISINFECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE DOG SHELTER

Vargová M., Veszelits Lakti?ová K. and Zigo F.*

ABSTRACT

The possibilities of disease transmission in a veterinary or shelter setting is potentially too great. Many animals enter shelters in malnourished, poor health, stressed and without vaccination. Some animals can be shedding various harmful pathogens, without showing any signs of disease. The study was focused on the determination of the effectiveness of mechanical cleaning and disinfection in monitored dog shelter. Effectiveness was evaluated by microbiological swabs from wall, floor and kennel. Swabs were taken before and after mechanical cleaning and after disinfection, from areas 10 cm2. The areas were wiped with sterile cotton swabs, the swabs were then placed in the sterile tube with 10 ml of sterile saline solution and 0.1 ml from this mixture was applied to the Endo agar, meat peptone agar and Sabourauds agar. Disinfectant used for disinfection of surfaces was Savo Prim in 3% concentration with exposure time 30 minutes. Disinfectant was effective on floor and wall where were significant decrease of TCB (total count of bacteria), CB (coliform bacteria) and molds after mechanical cleaning, no bacteria after disinfection, but on the kennel were detected 25 CFU (colony forming units) of TCB, 3 CFU of CB and 1 CFU of molds after mechanical cleaning which represent minimal decrease of microorganisms, in compare with numbers of microorganisms before mechanical cleaning. Also after disinfection were detected 3 CFU of TCB, 1 CFU of CB and 1 CFU of molds. Shelter sanitation prevents illness in both animals and people and creates a pleasant and healthy environment for animals.

Keywords: Savo Prim disinfectant, dog shelter, disinfection, microbiological swabs.