VirkonS - anyone use this? Talk to me about it!

[sonew123]

Quote:
Ill have to read more when I go back to work tomorrow but now you have me thinking-I just bought oxine in the gallon jug and that too, is supposed to take care of many bacterial and viral problems.

 

[Wynette]

Interesting you mention Oxine! I thought the SAME thing when I read about Virkon. I've posed the question to Diana, and will post what she has to say in here when I get her reply.

 

[gritsar]

Well from everything we tried, I think we can definitely rule out mites and anything bacterial. I used the hibiclens and it didn't help. Speckledhen suggested a fungal issue when it first occured. I'm still leanging towards that.
We're expecting bad weather tonight. If it's not too bad I'll wrangle that ol' roo of mine and bring him in for a anti-fungal spray down.

 

[Wynette]

Sounds like a good plan, Kat! I'm really hoping to get this thing treated & done with before the spring rains come & it gets humid out!

 

[kathyinmo]

I have read several articles about this VirkonS. Sounds impressive!

A word of caution to others .... VirkonS is NOT the same thing as Virkon.

Good luck with this product. I sure hope it works!

 

[Festa X11]

Hi I don`t know if VirkonS is packaged different in the USA but here in the UK it is a powder not tablets I use it at work for disinfecting broiler houses.
If you are intending to use the product I highly recommend you read very carefully the product data and safety sheet as this stuff is dangerous. We had to go on a product safety course before we could use it at work. The dilution rate we use is 2% for the houses so I would agree that amount is far too high for using on poultry. Please keep this in mind if you do use it, Antec international (DuPont) will not be held responsible for any damage or injury caused if you are not trained and do not have the correct equipment.

 

[dlhunicorn]

As virkon first needs dilution there is always a risk from the powder concentrate ... safety equipment is advised because of this > Corrosive statement refers to powder only not in use solution. (see link below)
The solution is only corrosive to metal (maximum contact time is ten minutes > when it is left to air dry (as is advised in order to ensure efficacy) then this will exceed the ten minutes > you can blow dry to sidestep this problem)
see here:
http://www.iowavet.com/pdfs/Virkon2.pdf
PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

http://www2.dupont.com/DAHS_EMEA/en_GB/products/disinfectants/virkon_s/aerial_disinfection.html
Aerial Disinfection in the Presence of Livestock
Virkon

S can be misted in the presence of livestock or poultry at a dilution rate of 1:200 (0.5%).
A cold fogger or mister should be used, as the noise of a thermal fogger may disturb the animal’s behaviour

http://www.worldpoultry.net/news/effective-disinfectant-for-salmonella-control-id4620.html

Summary

The avian leukosis group of viruses has long been a cause for concern to poultry producers. A new strain of the virus has now been isolated from meat type chickens in the UK. This new strain has been designated the Avian Leukosis Virus – J (ALV-J) strain.

The virus attacks red blood cells in the bone marrow, resulting in tumours of the bones, liver, spleen and kidneys. The virus spreads both vertically through breeding stock and horizontally from infected to susceptible chickens. Meat strains are particularly susceptible, and laboratory tests suggest that turkeys may also be at risk.

At the primary breeder level, the economic impact of infection is seen in reduced genetic selection pressure and direct market effects on infected lines. At the broiler breeder level, the infection results in severe mortality and increased susceptibility to other diseases, while at broiler level, adverse effects include poor feed efficiency, immunoincompetence, raised overall mortality and condemnations at processing.

In the UK, tumours have been mainly detected in broiler breeder parent stock from known primary breeder contamination. This has resulted not only in excessive mortality above breed targets in some flocks but also increased incidents of other diseases. There is anecdotal evidence of adverse effects on production and hatchability.

In the USA, there are suggestions of up to eight per cent mortality per month in severely affected breeder flocks.

There are currently no vaccines available and no specific treatment. True control can only be achieved by elimination of the infection from elite and grandparent stock, and hence parent stock.

Some practical control measures

Reduce all early stresses on young parent stock

Ensure good nutrition in the first 6 weeks

Rear males and females separately until mating.

Control needle spread

Strict biosecurity is absolutely essential. For maximum effect, this should include:

Isolating chicks by supply flock origin by strict biosecurity to prevent spread of infection from contaminated to susceptible flocks.

Controlling other disease challenge

Ensuring overall good farm hygiene and effective biosecurity.

Antec International’s broad spectrum virucidal disinfectant Virkon S has been tested by the UK’s Central Veterinary Laboratory for effectiveness against ALV-J, and has been proven effective at a dilution of 1:200