DISINFECTION OF THE VIVARIUM

A variety of gram negative bacteria are implicated in causing disease in reptiles and amphibia, these include Aeromonas, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas. Combined with stress even a small number of bacteria can lead to an overwhelming infection. Identification and treatment based on sensitivity patterns are essential for successful avian medicine, but the herpetologist can have a major role to play in prevention of infection.

Artificial incubation can transmit infection. Faecal contamination on one egg can be spread by means of the humidifying apparatus soaking bacteria off one egg and onto others.

The first precaution is to wipe eggs gently prior to placing in the incubator, to remove gross contamination and to use a suitable disinfectant in the washing solution. For this type of use the disinfectant should have certain properties:

· it must be safe and non toxic

· it should have good cleansing properties eg. ARK-KLENS

To prevent possible cross contamination from adult reptiles or other eggs, hands should be either gloved with 'sterile gloves' or treated with a suitable disinfectant. Here the disinfectant may have slightly different properties:

· it should be non-irritant to the skin

· it should be easy to use eg. Amprotect Hand rinse

The water in the humidifier is a great risk as this can be a major means of infecting eggs with Pseudomonas. Regular changes of water help reduce the risk as do the other measures mentioned but the potential value of the eggs within the incubator warrant taking extra care. A suitable disinfectant such as Ark-Klens can be incorporated in the water.

Infertile eggs (which are often smaller, sometimes yellowish and may develop mould early on) and those with non-viable embryos should be removed as soon as possible, otherwise they will act as growth sites for bacteria and moulds. If they cannot be removed from the mass of eggs the infected area should be painted carefully with TAMODINE-E on a daily basis.

As the eggs begin to shrink down onto the embryos prior to hatching, the eggs may be transferred to a shallow tray in a separate hatcher which has been previously washed in a disinfectant such as Ark-Klens. This means that the newly hatched reptile enters a clean world and that bits of egg shell with membranes etc don't contaminate the main incubator.

We recommend that as a routine vivaria are cleaned out and disinfected with Ark-Klens and that periodically when the vivarium is stripped down (weekly or monthly) it is disinfected with TAMODINE-E.

In naturalistic exhibits in zoos which may go much longer between total cleanouts we recommend routine spraying with Ark-Klens followed by at least partial wipedowns with TAMODINE-E. Special attention needs to be given to the substrate which will become soiled and will harbour disease.

Heated vivaria containing reptiles can build up infections, so wiping or spraying down regularly is important. Its safety of use, combined with its cleansing properties make Ark-Klens an ideal disinfectant in vivaria.