Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide and Silver Complex on the Potability of Drinking Water in Broiler Farms

Research Article

Austin J Vet Sci & Anim Husb. 2016; 3(2): 1024.

Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide and Silver Complex on the Potability of Drinking Water in Broiler Farms

Bumanglag EKB, dela Cruz JF* and Olarve JP

Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Philippines

*Corresponding author: Joseph F dela Cruz, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Philippines

Received: July 25, 2016; Accepted: November 18, 2016; Published: November 21, 2016

Abstract

Water is an essential component in poultry production. Drinking systems need regular cleaning, otherwise will become polluted and provide a source for uninhibited growth of bacteria. However, disinfectants happen to affect the effectivity and viability of supplements and antibiotics given through water. This survey on water potability in broiler farms of provinces in CALABARZON area gives an overview of water quality status of drinking water provided to flocks and with a study comparing the effectivity of commonly used disinfectant chlorine to hydrogen peroxide and silver complex. Water potability was assessed using total plate count, coliform count and confirmed test for presence of E. coli. Results revealed that there is a high incidence of non-potable water in CALABARZON area and hydrogen peroxide and silver complex is more effective disinfectant compared to chlorine as supported by water quality tests.

Keywords: Water potability; Broiler; Hydrogen peroxide; Silver complex

Introduction

The health of an animal is largely determined by water hygiene levels, a fact that is often overlooked. Drinking systems need regular cleaning, otherwise will become polluted and provide a source for uninhibited growth of bacteria. Contaminated water is often not visible to the eye, but animals become sick and performance levels drops. In order to eliminate the risk related to disease transfer, water intended for mass consumption is treated and disinfected before use. Monitoring of water sources involves the determination of important microbiological and physico-chemical parameters which indicate first of all potential organic pollution, particularly pollution originating from animal excrement, storage of waste, natural and artificial fertilisers, and others [1,2]. According to the [3] Escherichia coli are the only true indicator of faecal contamination; they are exclusively of intestinal origin and are found in faeces. Their presence indicates mostly fresh faecal contamination and thus points to serious shortcomings in protection of the specific water source, treatment of water and its hygienic safety. Improving access to safe drinking water can result in significant benefits to herd health. Regular assessments of water quality are necessary to ensure that microbial load and mineral content are within acceptable levels so that bird performance is not compromised.

Most of the nutritional supplements and antibiotics are given through water supply, which are many times better than via compound feed [4]. However, most commonly used water disinfectants happen to affect the effectivity and viability of these supplements and antibiotics [5]. With the increasing cost of antibiotics and concern for the development of resistance to antibiotics, other agents for water disinfection are being explored to maximize their use and effects.

Several disinfectants are being used in poultry farms and the most common would be chlorine. Chlorine is the cheapest water sanitizer available and it works well, although encouraging results have been obtained, there are noted drawbacks in its use. The major concern is about the inability to consistently remove bacteria, viruses and protozoa [6].

According to several studies, more than forty percent (40%) of privately owned individual drinking water supplies typically found on U.S. poultry farms are contaminated with coliform bacteria [5]. Medema et al., [5] also added that in some regions of the world, more than seventy percent (70%) of water supplies are contaminated with coliform bacteria. Due to the questionable integrity of water supply in poultry farms and effects of common water disinfectants on antimicrobial drugs and medications given through water, there is a need to study alternative water sanitizers. Although widely used chlorine has been shown to be effective to some extent in treating water, the use of hydrogen peroxide and silver complex is being explored. Hydrogen peroxide and silver have strong bactericidal properties and have been studied in different bacteria’s [7-9].

While disinfection potency of several concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and silver has been investigated separately on different bacteria [10], just a few studies used a combination of these disinfectants [7,11]. This study will try to establish if broiler farms’ water is safe and drinkable and to explore other options in water disinfection that can fit into the drawbacks of chlorine being commonly used disinfecting agent by commercial poultry raisers. Using hydrogen peroxide and silver complex (Aquaclean®) as an alternative disinfectant, this study will investigate its effectivity and its potential advantages and edge over use of chlorine.

Materials and Methods

Survey on potability of selected poultry farms

Forty commercial broiler farms in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon Province) area have given their consent for water sample collection to be conducted in the farms and for this water samples to be subjected to water quality tests. 100 ml water samples were taken from the main tank and building faucet on selected broiler farms’ buildings. Collection of water samples were done aseptically. Method of water sample collection for water quality tests was done as prescribed by Pitt R [12].

Comparison of bacterial count between chlorine and hydrogen peroxide and silver complex combination treated water.

Two broiler farms from a total of forty farms surveyed for water potability that have main tanks for each of their poultry houses were selected for chlorine and hydrogen peroxide and silver complex treatment. Main tanks of two buildings of each farms were treated, one with chlorine and the other one with hydrogen peroxide and silver complex. Examination of the water supply was conducted using the Most Probable Number (MPN) Total Plate Count (TPC) methods and confirmed test. On day 0, water was collected to serve as the baseline data. On the 4th and 8th day, water samples from both farms were collected again for bacteriological examination.

The mean total plate count/ml sample and coliforms/100ml sample were computed and the comparison between the presence of E. coli and classification of the water samples from the treatment groups of chlorine and Aquaclean® were determined.

Results

Results of water potability survey per province are presented in (Table 1). The bulk of the farms were in Rizal which comprised 18 (45%) farms and followed by Laguna with 12 (30%) farms. Batangas comprised 4 (10%) farms while Cavite and Quezon comprised 3 (7.5%) farms. Water samples from Batangas, Cavite, and Quezon all surveyed as 0% potable. Only provinces of Laguna and Rizal surveyed as 33.34% and 16.67% respectively have potable water supply indicative of poor water quality among provinces of CALABARZON area.