Assessment of Comparative Efficacy of Disinfectants on the Microbial load of Sheep and Goat Slaughterhouses

The present investigation aimed to determining the efficacy of four different disinfectants on microbial load collected from the effluent of distinct areas like flaying, evisceration, exsanguination and running tap water of sheep and goat slaughterhouses at different localities in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. The disinfectant effectiveness at various concentrations was tested using the well diffusion method. The test disinfectant contains active compounds like sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, benzalkonium chloride and carbolic acid at different concentrations. The results indicated that the efficacy of disinfectants generally increased by increasing the concentration from lower to higher level. However, some of the disinfectants were ineffective even at their highest recommended concentrations. Sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite at their recommended concentrations of 6 % and 5 % respectively were ineffective and disinfectant solution containing benzalkonium chloride 80 was highest at 2.5 % and also at 0.25 % concentration. This research concluded that the most effective disinfectant was carbolic acid at 10 % concentration among all selected disinfectants and it effectively decreased the microbial load on different areas of slaughter house.

• Not only the type of disinfectant but also the concentration at which disinfection is used also plays a vicious role in disinfection.

• The efficacy of disinfectants generally increased by increasing the concentration from lower to higher level.

• The most effective disinfectant was carbolic acid at 10% concentration.