1. Principles of
Zoo Hygiene
Dr. Pallav Shekhar
Department of Veterinary Medicine
Bihar Veterinary College, Bihar Animal
Sciences University
Unit -4
2. Introduction
• Usage of suitable disinfectant (natural or synthetic)
• Proper disposal of carcass
• Speedy disposal of feed wastes
• Supply of hygienic water
• Animal keepers and handlers’ hygiene
• Bush clearance (vector control)
• Disposal of polythene bags
3. • White washing of water containers and walls and
feeding tanks in a periodical manner.
• Adaptation of suitable fly control measures (fly
catcher lights) esp. in fed –receiving spots or stores
room.
• Speedy clearance of sheds / cages after the
occurrence of diarrheic stools / after the conducting
of operation.
6. Protective square of
electric fence with Knight
Stick sticky trap (1), solar‐
powered fence charger (2),
and grounding rod (3)
contained within
7. • Strengthening of rodent or pest proof barriers (Vermin control) or
cages or fences esp. in aviaries or bird-exhibit places to avoid
diseases.
• Usage of aseptic infrastructures like sterilized needles, syringes,
sample-collecting containers etc.
• Laboratory should be a clean one without giving chances for any
types of infections
12. • Usage of aseptic infrastructures like
sterilized needles, syringes, sample-
collecting containers etc.
• Laboratory should be a clean one
without giving chances for any
types of infections.
13. Quarantine
• The term "quarantine" is a very familiar word in both medi- cal and
veterinary science and it was actually derived from an old French
official method “querente” meaning forty days of isolation (Arnall &
Keymer, 1975) for a ship.
• It literally means compulsory isolation or detention to prevent spread
of contagion or infection.
14. Why important in Zoo
• Prevention is better than cure” and one of the first steps or
practices one would adopt in the realm of preventive medicine is
quarantine.
• It should be remembered that any newly procured wild animal and
bird for a zoo could be a potential source of pathogenic microbes or
parasites to an apparently healthy premises and its inhabitants
15. Quarantine and Its tests
Group of Wild Animals Important criteria to be assessed during arrival of new
wild animal species in a zoo as a preventive measure of
diseases
Primates •Hematology and Serology
•Urine analysis
•Culture of feces for salmonella /Shigella /Camphylobacter
•Serology for Herpes virus simiae (Herpes B) in old world Monkeys.
•Chest radiograph
•PCR for Tuberculosis
•Coprological examination
Hoof stock •Hematology and Serology
•Coggins test for equid species
•Vaccination in endemic areas
•Coprological examination
Small mammals/ carnivores •Vaccination applicable
•Hematology
•Bio chemistry
•Urine analysis
•Coprological examination
Birds •Direct and flotation test
•Evaluation for ectoparasites
•Fecal culture for salmonella sp
Reptiles and Amphibians •Fecal examination
16. Sanitization and Carcass disposal
• Glutaraldehyde shall be chosen for the disinfections processes after
the disposal of the carcass, subsequent to the post- mortem.
• Anthrax affected carcass or suspected carcass should not be
opened and the burial should be carried out at least with two
metre depth, with a sample spread-over of quicklime.
17. Waste Disposal Process
• These procedures need to be maintained in a perfect
condition in appropriate polythene bags without any
spillage in the environment.
18. • It may be better to burry the carcass, together with the bedding and soil
contaminated with discharge.
• If spore formation occurs (within few hours of exposure to air), strong-
disinfectants may be used like Lysol (this should be in contact with
spores for atl east 2days)
or
• Strong solution of formalin or sodium hydroxide at the strength of 5-10%.
19. • Burning by using a incinerator will be a better practice of disposal
of carcass, since it avoids feeding of infected carcass by scavengers
like hyena, jackals etc. and also helps to prevent the contamination
of the environment in which other wild animals are confined.
20. Floor sanitation
• Despite proper cleaning and one or two times of washing of floor, there are
more chances for the accumulation of feces and feces which often get mixed
with urine and they get embedded in the crevices of floor or wall. Hence there
may be a possibility of a heavy “build-up-of-Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria ”.
• Often, due to the conditions like suitable climate that comprises the apt
temperature, humidity and rain fall changes, there is increase in the spread
and survival of these bacterial organisms especially ,when cleaning works are
not done in a proper manner.
• Application of effective disinfectants like the glutaraldehyde will be of highly
useful in destroying the bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic pathogens.
21. Vessels
• Any stainless steel surfaces (feeding vessels if any) may be cleaned and
disinfected with trisodium phosphate.
• During adaptation of the sanitation measures in the animal room, it is to be
noted that since the alkalis are non-toxic, when adequately diluted they leave
no residual odor and are even used in the treatment of floor in food factories
and hence can be safely used for floors.
• Particularly these materials will be of useful in places where layers of fatty
materials may accumulate.
22. Sanitization
• Inside the animal cage / room, the debris need to be cleaned every
day.
• The high pressure based hose pipe should not be used, because it
will lead to the deposition of fomites, aerosol and debris on walls
etc.
• Always foot bath is to be provided before each wild animal
enclosure and the animal keeper should develop the routine habit
of dipping his legs in this, before each time of entry in to the animal
place.
23. • Stray dogs, cats, rodents, snails and insects transmit various diseases both in
active and passive manners. Hence, a strict control is to be made on the breeding
and elimination of them within the zoo premises, to the possible extent.
• Moats wet or dry need to be cleaned in a periodical manner and the prompt
cleaning measures need to be undertaken with adequate drying of wet moat.
• Algae development may be monitored on the wet moats in particular.
• Enteric infections may occur when the confined wild animals develop the habit of
drinking water.
• Bush needs to be cleared with regard to minimizing of
incidences with trypanosomes
24. Cages
Documentations are
available on the high
incidence of enteric
infections in cages with
has not been cleaned well
after the cubbing /
farrowing / calving /
whelping etc.
Unhygienic status
maintained within the
wild animal cages
especially the ones with
the new born wild
animals lead to infection
in the young ones.
25. Precautions
• Precautions should be undertaken with each sanitizing agent that is used in the
zoological park, as quoted below:
• Smell of the concerned sanitizing agent is one of the important factors to be
taken care of in the wild animal enclosures.
• The approximate contact time should be maintained for each agent. For example,
there is a need of approximately two minutes contact time for the exertion of
bactericidal, viricidal and mycobacterial actions of the compounds like iodophors.
• It is worthy to mention the iodophors are not suitable as hard – surfaced
disinfectant.
• It is better to use the Specific disinfectants for the concerned pathogen whether it
is a viral or bacterial agent
26. Specific disinfectants
Diseases Specific disinfectant to be used
FMD •4% solution of sodium bi carbonate (washing soda)
•Formaldehyde fumigation of materials like straw, grain etc.
•Citric acid
Anthrax 2-5% HCl acid to disinfectant the hides and hides contaminated with Anthrax as in taxidermy
Rabies Formaldehyde or Cresol may be of usef
Tuberculosis 70% Isopropyl alcohol in 5mtes time or 3% phenol in 2-3 hrs
Herpes virus Gluteraldehyde /Chlorine/Ethanol
Fowl pox virus Formaldehyde /Methyl bromide
New castle diseases Formaldehyde /Chlorinated lime /Chloramine lime
27. Staffs
• Hands should be washed frequently especially after handling the animal, its food, bedding, enclosure materials,
excrement and / or tissue and body fluids.
• Cages should be cleaned so as to minimize the risk of creating aerosols or droplets of potentially infectious
materials. Wearing protective clothing, especially masks, gloves and glasses or goggles.
• The staff should be instructed to engage in proper personnel hygiene procedures in and out of the workplace.
• Staff members who are ill with a cold and or having a cold sore should avoid working around the animals.
• If staff members get sick they should seek medical attention.
• A baseline serum sample should be collected from all personnel working with animals for periodical screening for
infectious diseases.
• Staff members should take precautions to avoid any physical injury in handling them.
• An effective means for handling, reporting, evaluating and treating occupational exposures to possible zoonotic
infections should be developed for the institution.
• Individuals with a known immuno deficiency diseases should be extremely cautious in working with potentially
infected animals or materials.
• An active insect and rodent control program should be instituted in the facility.
• Personnel who have open cuts or sores on their hands should wear gloves while working around animals and their
faeces.
