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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #370284
Research Project: Production and Processing Intervention Strategies for Poultry Associated Foodborne Pathogens

Location: Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit

Title: Evaluation of dry hydrogen peroxide as a commercial hatchery sanitizer

Author
item OXFORD, LAURA - University Of Georgia
item MCELREATH, JULIA - University Of Georgia
item BARRIOS, MIGUEL - Synexis Biodefense Systems
item JORDAN, BRIAN - University Of Georgia
item WILSON, JEANNA - University Of Georgia
item Cox Jr, Nelson

Submitted to: International Poultry Scientific Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/19/2018
Publication Date: 7/15/2019
Citation: Oxford, L., Mcelreath, J., Barrios, M., Jordan, B., Wilson, J., Cox Jr, N.A. 2019. Evaluation of dry hydrogen peroxide as a commercial hatchery sanitizer [abstract]. International Poultry Scientific Forum. 98(1):35-36.

Interpretive Summary: none

Technical Abstract: Naturally occurring bacteria in a commercial broiler hatchery can be detrimental to hatchery performance as well as chick health even though sanitation and disinfection occur routinely. Therefore, a method of constant sanitation could be a valuable tool to commercial hatcheries, and a commercially available product, gaseous dry hydrogen peroxide (DHP), was evaluated for this purpose. Preliminary studies have shown that DHP is effective at reducing microbial load on hatching eggs and does not negatively impact hatchability or chick health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of DHP on bacteria levels in a commercial hatchery. For this trial, a hatchery with two identical sides was used and half of the hatchery was treated with DHP through the HVAC system as well as with stand-alone units while the other half remained non-treated. Treated areas included an egg cooler, setter hall, hatcher hall, chick processing areas, and vaccine laboratories. The non-treated locations included an egg cooler, setter hall, and hatcher hall. Bacterial loads were measured by total ATP bioluminescence swab samples and static air plates using tryptic soy agar (TSA). Samples were taken from similar locations on each side of the hatchery for comparison, and from machinery in the chick processing areas. Static air samples and ATP swabs were collected for two weeks prior to treatment to establish baseline microbial load. During treatment, samples were initially obtained bi-monthly, then weekly, then bi-weekly for 27 weeks. Data were analyzed using Prism statistical software with two-way ANOVA and Sidak's multiple comparisons test. In the treated egg cooler, there was a significant reduction from baseline in microbial load throughout the course of the experiment. There was no significant reduction from baseline in microbial load over the course of the experiment in the treated setter hall. Data from the chick processing areas was highly variable from week to week, which suggests that samples were more representative of post-processing sanitation than the effectiveness of DHP. This study suggests that a DHP product could be beneficial as a method of constant sanitation to reduce microbial load in commercial hatcheries.