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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #116964
Title: ABILITY OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND TIMSEN TO ELIMINATE ARTIFICALLY INOCULATED SALMONELLA FROM HATCHING EGGS

Author
item Cox Jr, Nelson
item MAULDIN, J - UGA
item KUMARARAJ, R - MADRAS VET COLLEGE
item Musgrove, Michael

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Publication Type: Monograph
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2001
Publication Date: 11/1/2001
Citation: Cox Jr, N.A., Mauldin, J.M., Kumararaj, R., Musgrove, M.T. 2001. Ability of hydrogen peroxide and timsen to eliminate artifically inoculated salmonella from hatching eggs. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. 11:266-269.

Interpretive Summary: Fertile hatching eggs can be contaminated with Salmonella and other human pathogens. Eggs are sometimes treated with various chemicals to kill those bacteria before chicks hatch and become contaminated. Timsen, a chemical solution available commercially, was applied to eggs inoculated with Salmonella. Its effectiveness in killing the bacteria was compared to water and hydrogen peroxide, a common but corrosive chemical fequently used for egg sanitization. Timsen was more effective than water but less effective than hydrogen peroxide in killing Salmonella. This information will be useful to hatchery managers choosing egg sanitizers.

Technical Abstract: Varying levels (10(5) - 10(7)/egg) of S. typhimurium were inoculated onto fertile hatching eggs by immersion. Following this, the inoculated eggs were either untreated (control), water treated, hydrogen peroxide treated, or Timsen treated. Hydrogen peroxide was superior to Timsen as an egg treatment to eliminate artifically inoculated Salmonella from fertile eggs, ,but still one third of the treated eggs remained Salmonella positive. Thi study demonstrates how difficult it is to eliminate Salmonella that contaminate fertile hatching eggs. Until a significantly effective system demonstrates how difficult it is to eliminate Salmonella that contaminate hatching eggs. Until a significantly effective system or process is devised and commercially implemented the possibility exists that bacteria can pass from one generation to the next through the fertile egg.