DISINFECTANTS
What is the difference between disinfection and sterilization?
Sterilization is the removal of all forms of microbial life from an environment,
and is very difficult to achieve in the home. Disinfection is the selective
elimination of certain undesirable microorganisms in order to prevent their
transmission. In terms of the home with pet cats, disinfection is necessary
to prevent the spread of infectious diseases from one cat to another, or, in
a few cases, to humans.
What are the important types of microorganisms to consider?
A number of different organisms can infect cats - protozoa such as Toxoplasma
gondii and Giardia lambliae, which are also important infections
of humans, yeasts and fungi, bacteria, mycoplasmas, Chlamydia psittaci
and viruses. Of these, viruses are generally considered to be the most important
pathogens of cats. The viruses include the 'cat flu' viruses feline herpesvirus
(FHV) and feline calicivirus (FCV), feline parvovirus (FPV) the cause of enteritis
and panleukopenia, feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus
(FIV) and feline coronavirus, the cause of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
FPV and FCV are the two viruses which are most resistant to most disinfectants,
and are two of the most infectious, so a disinfectant that is effective against
these two viruses is desirable.
What types of disinfectants are available?
Chemical disinfectants can broadly be divided into liquid and gaseous types,
but only the former are a viable prospect for home disinfection. Many different
types of chemicals have disinfectant properties, the most common ones being
listed below:-
Phenolic compounds
These compounds, derived from coal tar, include 'Lysol'(cresol
and soap solution), 'Stericol'(xylenol-rich cresylic acid and soap solution),
and 'TCP'. They are sometimes mixed with pine disinfectants, e.g. 'Dettol'.
Phenolic compounds are effective against viruses, but must NOT be used where
there are cats (see below).
Biguanides
Such as chlorhexidine are commonly used disinfectants, but are
not active against viruses. Antiseptics such as 'Savlon' contain chlorhexidine
and cetrimide.
Surface active agents (surfactants)
Come in four types, cationic, anionic, nonionic and amphoteric. Of these,
only cationic and amphoteric have appreciable disinfectant properties, but
are not very effective against FCV or FPV, although they will kill FHV, FeLV
and FIV efficiently. Examples are cetrimide (cationic, in 'Savlon') and 'Tego'
(amphoteric).
Aldehydes
Two aldehydes, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde are very important disinfectants
with broad disinfectant properties.
Halogens
Sodium hypochlorite solution e.g.'Chloros', 'Domestos' is effective
against viruses, but loses activity in heavily soiled situations.
What disinfectants are safe to use for cats?
Particular care must be taken in the choice of a disinfectant for use in a
home with cats. Cats are generally fastidious creatures and their washing habits
will leave them open to ingesting anything they get on their bodies. Cats have
low levels of the liver enzyme called glucuronide transferase, which is responsible
for detoxifying phenolic compounds. Consequently, phenolic disinfectants must
NEVER be used where there are cats resident. The other disinfectants listed
above are safe for cats provided that the instructions on the label are strictly
observed. Do NOT use a stronger solution than recommended. The disinfectant
should be rinsed away thoroughly before cats are allowed access to the disinfected
area. Although individual disinfectant compounds can be used, better results
are likely using proprietary mixtures such as 'Parvocide', 'Peratol', 'Virkon',
'Trigene' or 'GPC-8' which have all been shown to be safe for cats and are effective
against all of the common viruses.
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