Application of Nano-Particles for controlling disease-causing microorganisms in pig barns

Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Prairie Swine Centre by admin on August 17, 2015

Laboratory-scale tests conducted were to evaluate the effectiveness of various types of commercially-available nanoparticles on the levels of microorganisms commonly encountered in swine barns.  Results indicate Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles had the highest antimicrobial efficacy among all the nanoparticles tested. Further experiments carried out in the barn indicated that partial filtration of barn air with a filter loaded with ZnO nanoparticles in the ventilation recirculation system achieved reduction in bioaerosol levels at the animal- and human-occupied zones. During sanitation, 10 mg/mL of ZnO nanoparticle solution sprayed on concrete pen floor surfaces showed significant decrease in total bacterial counts on surfaces four hours after application. Microbial population, however, started to increase after new nursery pigs were brought into the room.

In assessing the feasibility of the use of ZnO nanoparticles as part of sanitation procedures between batches of animals, the total cost associated with the application of ZnO nanoparticles was compared to the cost incurred when using the conventional chemical disinfectant. Using the application rate identified from the room-scale trials (10 mg/mL), the total amount of ZnO nanoparticles required to disinfect a 100-head grow-finish room at the end of each room cycle was estimated to be about 0.7 kg. The duration to prepare and apply the treatment would be about 3 hours per cycle. In addition, the total cost for the required materials included the cost of mixing containers, weighing scale and funnels. Summing up all these estimates, the total cost associated with ZnO nanoparticles as a disinfectant in a grow-finish stage of operation was around CAD$1.14 per finished pig. This was just CAD$0.12 per pig higher than the use of the conventional disinfectant (CAD$1.02 per finished pig). The unit price per kilogram of the conventional disinfectant was slightly higher than ZnO nanoparticles but because of its higher water solubility, the time to prepare and apply the treatment was lower than with ZnO nanoparticles. Nevertheless, the slim margin of the total cost associated with ZnO nanoparticle solution compared to the conventional chemical disinfectant can be compensated by its effectiveness to reduce further the levels of microorganisms on surfaces when preparing the room for next growth cycle.

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