A laboratory system for evaluating poultry transport crate disinfection

Development of an adequate disinfection system is needed to eliminate or decrease the level of salmonellosis in the poultry industry. This study was initiated to find better ways to disinfect poultry transport cages contaminated with Salmonella.;A three step approach was used to develop a comprehensive solution to the problem. In the first step, cage samples of wood, fiberglass, and galvanized steel were contaminated with 5 strains of Salmonella mixed in a poultry fecal slurry. Sample pieces were then subjected to hot water pasteurization and to warm-water-enhanced with a disinfectant. Clorox;The most easily decontaminated material was galvanized steel followed by fiberglass and wood. None of the chemicals showed superiority over the other and hot water pasteurization was as effective as chemically enhanced warm water.;A laboratory sized model to simulate actual field conditions was designed and constructed as the second step in the study. Chicken manure, dirt, and feathers were mixed into the water in the model. Sample pieces of contaminated poultry crating were tested in the disinfection system in which they were dipped and treated for two minutes. Based on the results of step one, sodium hypochlorite was chosen for testing at different water temperatures. Total residual chlorine was monitored during the experiment. Experimental results indicated that varying amounts of sodium hypochlorite at different water temperatures were needed to kill Salmonella on different materials. Galvanized steel pieces were disinfected at 45 C and 500 ppm Clorox;In addition, a computer model was developed to estimate the heat transfer coefficients between the heated water and the sample pieces. The finite difference method was used in the model. Heat transfer coefficients ranged from 6.24-35.20 W/m...