Disinfecting for coccidiosis: getting the treatment right

It is well recognized that coccidiosis is a disease that can significantly compromise the productivity and welfare of a poultry flock (and other livestock). The parasite which causes it (of the genus Eimeria) is ever-present in the shed and farm environment, but it often becomes more of an issue in autumn when the temperature is still relatively warm and humidity is higher. This creates ideal conditions for Eimeria oocysts to sporulate and multiply (read more about its life cycle here). Whilst it is impossible to eradicate coccidiosis from the farm entirely, it is vital to limit a young bird’s exposure to the infectious oocysts at the start of a crop, as the bird has had little chance to develop any immunity. This can be achieved by following a few key points when disinfecting at turnaround.

What product should I use to combat coccidiosis?

Common forms of disinfectant are not effective against coccidial oocytes – a specific coccidiosis disinfectant is required. The most effective coccidiosis treatments on the market are based on the synthetic phenol, Chlorocresol, and the higher the concentration, the more effective the treatment. Secondary actives such as alcohol or acid are used to break through the protective layer of the oocyst so that the phenol can take effect. If a farm is struggling with coccidiosis, we always recommend Smite KokziDes in our bespoke cleaning programmes, because, quite simply, it is the most effective anti-coccidial disinfectant available in the UK.

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Smite KokziDes

Smite KokziDes is a powerful biocidal disinfectant which kills micro-organisms, bacteria and viruses. It contains Chlorocresol, a phenol-based lipid solvent which breaks through the protective triple outer layers found in many pathogens and parasites such as coccidial oocysts and worm eggs. It is extremely efficient - in tests run by DVG, the German Veterinary Association (DEFRA does not have an approval scheme for anti-coccidials), it proved to be twice as powerful as other leading products with approval, achieving a 95% kill rate in 2 hours at 2% dilution rate (applying 400ml per sq/m at 20 degrees). At 2% dilution, it is also economical to use, with other treatments requiring 4% dilution rate.

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Less effective measures

Two traditional methods of combatting coccidiosis are floor burning and treating with ammonia. Ammonia is cheap and relatively effective but is, of course, extremely hazardous, highly toxic if inhaled and unpleasant to apply. It also necessitates a longer re-entry time to the shed, which can be problematic with short turnarounds. Floor burning can be effective, providing it reaches the extreme temperatures required, but these temperatures often aren’t reached in reality, and if they are, concrete floors can become damaged with repeated exposure to extreme temperatures over time. It is also important to note that oocysts are not just present on the floor – they are on the walls and on any equipment that the birds have access to, including feeders, and drinkers, so these areas would have to be treated differently.

How should the KokziDes be applied?

At Interhatch, we always recommend that any coccidiosis treatment should be the last stage of cleaning and disinfecting, before repopulating the shed. There are four critical factors to success:

  1. The treatment must be applied at the dilution rate and amount recommended by the manufacturer. Whilst this might seem obvious, it is all too easy to guess or estimate amounts when working against the clock, or to apply the treatment hurriedly and therefore inadequately.
  2. The treatment must be applied when the floor is dry – this avoids any further dilution of the active ingredient, so time must be allowed for the floor to dry before a coccidiosis treatment is applied.
  3. The treatment must be applied to the floor and approximately 600-1000mm up the wall, and to any other areas or equipment that the birds have access to, including drinkers, feeders and perches.
  4. This treatment must then remain wet for 2-4 hours to ensure that it has time to act in breaking down the oocysts – premature drying or use of other treatments quickly after dedicated cocci treatment will negate the effect of the treatment.

After cleaning and disinfecting a shed, one of the highest risks of re-introducing oocysts is on boots. Care should be taken either to change footwear at the entrance of the shed, or to use footbaths to protect against transfer of micro-organisms between sites.

Getting ahead of coccidiosis

As with most things, it is always better to anticipate the threat of coccidiosis than wait for it to become an issue. For this reason, many commercial farms kick off autumn with 2 or 3 cycles of full-strength coccidiosis treatment to keep the parasite at bay (by the time an issue becomes apparent, a farmer will already have incurred financial losses through reduced performance). Interhatch creates bespoke turnaround cleaning and disinfection programmes based on the type and size of your sheds and any specific challenges you may face. For more advice or an informal chat get in touch with us today.