The hen has laid an egg, and not just an egg, but with salmonellas
Studies have shown that salmonella can be detected among 1-5 % of cattle, 3-20 % of pigs, 2-5 % of sheep, and among more than a half of domestic fowl (hen, ducks, and geese).
Infectious diseases of animals pose a still greater hazard for human health than the plant diseases. The former can be transmitted directly from animal to men: via livestock products, and sometimes via air.
The infected animal is a source of a great number of microbes that contaminate the cattle-sheds, feeding troughs, etc.
People are susceptible to such diseases as brucellosis (which is the usual pest of goats, sheep, cattle, and swine) and salmonellosis. The number of salmonellosis instances ever grows worldwide, especially in large cities with a centralised food supply system. The ratio of salmonellosis instances in the total number of intestinal infections in Great Britain, USA, Germany, Switzerland, and other countries comprises 35-90 %. Many varieties of domestic animals are susceptible to salmonellosis.
The youngs are especially prone to it: calves, piglets, lambs, colts, cubs of fir-bearing animals, ducklings, turkey-poults, goslings, etc. Cats, dogs, rodents, as well as wild animals and birds can be the carriers of this disease. However, the most widespread way of infection from animals to humans lies via eggs and poultry.
Unfortunately, most of the experts have to admit that the attempts to counter the disease with traditional means can often fail. For example, when fighting an epizootic instance at one of the pig farms in Russia, well-tested inactivated vaccines for inoculation of animals gave no result. On the other hand, medical and preventive measures with traditional antibacterial chemicals at large farms proved to be inefficient from the economical point of view.
However, the biocides of the polyalkylene guanidine (PAG) family can effectively cure the infected animals and prevent the propagation of infection diseases. In particular, they are recommended for treating and preventing intestinal and lung diseases of domestic fowl.
Addition of biocides to the chicken food or water increases the rate of weight increase due to the suppression of infections.
Disinfection of poultry farms, hatcheries, food, eggs, and droppings was proved efficient. Thus, tests performed at the agricultural facilities of the “Konstantinovo” Company (Moscow Region) have shown that sprinkling the eggs with biocidal solutions prevents infection and completely suppresses the propagation of colibacteria on the surface of the eggs.
Polymeric biocides can effectively fight cattle diseases: mastitis, hoof rot, intestinal diseases, brucellosis, wounds, etc. Water solution of the PAG biocides was used at the agricultural Company “Konstaninovo” to treat twice daily the hoofs of the cows suffering from hoof rot, abrasions, and pressure ulcers. Seven of the ten cows were completely cured in 20 days, and one – within a month.
PAG-based biocides can suppress such acid-proof bacteria as Smegmatis and intracellular bacteria (like tuberculosis pathogens). These bacteria are a big problem for swine breeding. Treatment of new-born piglets with biocides completely excludes the death of youngs caused by infectious diseases.
PAGs can find application at every livestock farm, even where no infectious diseases have been found. In this case PAGs can be used for disinfection of facilities and personnel overalls. Besides, low toxicity of the PAG biocides and the absence of allergenic properties can guarantee that no harm would be done to animals or humans, but only good.
Konstantin Efimov,
Director of the Institute
of Ecotechnologies