Efficacy of thiabendazole (Mertect 340-F) in controlling mold in turkey confinement housing.

Mertect 340-F (thiabendazole) was evaluated as a mold inhibitor for litter in turkey confinement housing using green oak wood shavings heavily contaminated with mold spores. One day before the addition of shavings, two environmentally controlled rooms were sprayed with Mertect 340-F at a rate of 51.0 ml in 11.37 liters of water (16 fl. oz./6000 sq. ft.). After the litter was added, it was treated with Mertect 340-F at a rate of 33.0 ml in 75.8 liters of water (32 fl. oz./6000 sq. ft.). The litter was treated again at 6 and 12 weeks. Mertect 340-F-treated litter had significantly lower mold spore counts than water-treated litter. Turkeys reared on Mertect 340-F-treated litter displayed no adverse effects. No obvious differences between groups were noted post mortem. Microscopically, however, lungs from turkeys on water-treated litter had a higher incidence of granulomas and mycelia than lungs from birds on Mertect 340-F-treated litter.

Evaluation of four disinfectants under poultry grow-out conditions using contact agar sampling technique.

Four commercial disinfectants used in poultry house sanitation procedures were evaluated for efficacy using a specialized petri dish (Rodac plate) for contact sampling. The samples were taken from a variety of surface materials commonly found in poultry rearing facilities. Two media were used, one for bacteria and one for mold. Predisinfection samples were taken following removal of chickens and litter. Postdisinfection samples were taken 4 hr after room treatment with a high pressure spray apparatus. The most effective disinfectant for reducing bacteria colony counts was a product that contained glutaraldehyde. The other products, ranking in order of efficacy for bacteria, contained cresylic acid, iodophors, and a combination of quaternary ammonium compound and formaldehyde. The most effective disinfectant for reducing mold colony counts was the product containing cresylic acid. The other products, ranking in order of efficacy for mold, contained iodophors, the combination of quaternary ammonium compound and formaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde. The most effective overall disinfectant was the cresylic acid product.