Pilot studies to evaluate the efficacy of a truck-mounted tire sanitizer system

This article is available online at http://www.aasv.org/shap.html. Original research Peer reviewed Pilot studies to evaluate the efficacy of a truck-mounted tire sanitizer system Sandra F. Amass, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ABVP; Jessica L. Schneider, RVT; Darryl Ragland, DVM, PhD; Michael A. Hill, PhD, MRCVS Summary Objective: To determine whether using a tire sanitizer system to apply a disinfectant or water would reduce or eliminate bacteria on the tires of a truck after it was driven through a swine farm. Materials and methods: After truck tires were contaminated by driving on a farm road in the spring and fall, disinfectant or water was sprayed on the left tires using a tire sanitizer system. The right tires were untreated controls. Bacterial counts were compared from swabs collected from standard areas of the tire after contamination and after treatment. Results: Use of the tire sanitizer system with disinfectant was effective in removing bacteria from the tire footprint and, in most cases, the tread grooves of tires in fall and spring seasons. Use of the tire sanitizer system to spray water was not effective in reducing bacterial counts. Driving along an asphalt road, without use of disinfectant, removed bacteria from tires in some cases. In cool, muddy conditions, bacterial counts on the tires were lower when the tire sanitizer system was used than when the system was not used, but counts were not consistently lower in warm, dry conditions. Implications: Bacterial numbers on tires varied with temperature and moisture conditions. Use of the tire sanitizer system with disinfectant was effective in removing bacteria from the footprints and, in most cases, from the tread grooves. Use of tire sanitizers with disinfectant may be an adjunct tool in protocols for vehicle decontamination

Evaluating the efficacy of protocols for decontaminating tail-clipping instruments

Summary Research to determine effective protocols for decontaminating pig-processing instruments is lacking. In this study, decontamination of tail-clipping instruments by dipping in a chlorhexidine solution or water was not as effective as wiping the instruments with a clean cloth

Number 2 J Swine Health Prod

This article is available online at http://www.aasv.org/shap.html. Summary Objectives: To determine whether people can mechanically transmit enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) from infected to susceptible weaned pigs during direct pig contact and to determine biosecurity measures that will prevent such transmission. Materials and methods: One hundred and twenty-five 19-to 21-day-old weaned pigs, culture-negative for ETEC M1823B, were randomly allocated to six treatment groups housed in five separate isolation rooms. Inoculated Pigs were offered 1.36 × 10 10 to 8.92 × 10 10 colony forming units of E coli mixed in strawberry gelatin on two occasions. Pen Sentinels were housed with Inoculated Pigs. A caretaker fed pigs, checked waterers, and directly contacted each group of pigs for 10 minutes daily for 10 consecutive days. The caretaker contacted Inoculated Pigs and moved directly to Direct Sentinels, recontacted Inoculated Pigs, washed hands twice, changed outerwear, then contacted Hand-wash Sentinels. The caretaker then recontacted Inoculated Pigs, showered, changed outerwear, and contacted Shower Sentinels. Non-exposed pigs had a separate caretaker. Results: Escherichia coli M1823B was isolated from all 20 Inoculated Pigs, all five Pen Sentinels, 20 of 25 Direct Sentinels, and 23 of 25 Hand-wash Sentinels. The 25 Shower Sentinels and 25 Non-exposed Pigs remained culture-negative for M1823B. Implications: In this study, people mechanically transmitted E coli without extraordinary measures to enhance caretaker contact with pig excretions and secretions beyond that which would occur in a typical pork production unit. Hand washing and donning clean outerwear did not prevent E coli transmission. However, showering and donning clean outerwear did prevent transmission

Brief communication Peer reviewed Impact of downtime on reducing aerobic bacterial counts in cleaned and disinfected trailers

Summary Swab samples from upper and lower deck fl oors of nine swine breeding-stock trailers were collected before, immediately after, 1 day after, and 2 days after washing, disinfecting, and drying the trailers. Time after decontamination procedures (downtime) did not affect median aerobic bacterial counts