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Title: REDUCING AIRBORNE PATHOGENS AND DUST IN COMMERCIAL HATCHING CABINETS USING AN ELECTROSTATIC SPACE CHARGE SYSTEM

Author
item Mitchell, Bailey
item WALTMAN, W - GA POULTRY LAB-OAKWOOD,GA

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/27/2002
Publication Date: 6/1/2003
Citation: MITCHELL, B.W., WALTMAN, W.D. REDUCING AIRBORNE PATHOGENS AND DUST IN COMMERCIAL HATCHING CABINETS USING AN ELECTROSTATIC SPACE CHARGE SYSTEM. AVIAN DISEASES. 2003.

Interpretive Summary: Commercial hatcheries typically use hydrogen peroxide or formaldehyde gas in hatching cabinets to reduce airborne bacteria which may lead to disease transmission during the hatch. A non-chemical option an electrostatic space charge system (ESCS) was customized for commercial hatching cabinets and tested extensively in broiler hatcheries. The ESCS cleans air by charging dust and bacteria in the cabinet with a strong negative electrostatic charge and collecting the charged particles on grounded plates. Results from trials with three companies showed the ESCS reduced airborne dust by about 78% and airborne Salmonella by as much as 83%. The ESCS was comparable to formaldehyde and superior to hydrogen peroxide and no treatment for reduction of disease causing bacteria in the air. Visual observations following the hatch showed reduced dust on the floor and reduced dust in the hatcher baskets.

Technical Abstract: Commercial hatcheries typically infuse hydrogen peroxide or formaldehyde gas into hatching cabinets to reduce airborne pathogens which may lead to disease transmission during the hatch. A non-chemical option an electrostatic space charge system (ESCS) was customized for commercial hatching cabinets and tested extensively in broiler hatcheries. The ESCS cleans air by transferring a strong negative electrostatic charge to dust and microorganisms which are aerosolized during the hatch and collecting the charged particles on grounded plates. Results from trials with three companies showed the ESCS reduced airborne dust by 77 to 79%, Enterobacteriaceae by 93 to 96%, and airborne Salmonella by 33 to 83%. With one exception, the companies required continued use of their normal disinfectant in the control cabinets, thus one treatment comparison for the ESCS was to an untreated cabinet, one was to a hydrogen peroxide treated cabinet, and the other was to formaldehyde treated cabinets. The ESCS was comparable to formaldehyde and superior to hydrogen peroxide and no treatment for pathogen reduction. Dust reduction measurements coincided with visual observations following pull which showed reduced dust on the floor and reduced dust in the hatcher baskets.