Screening Sanitizing Agents and Methods of Application for Hatching Eggs III. Effect of Concentration and Exposure Time on Embryo Viability

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Abstract
This is the third of a four part screening procedure to find a safe, economical and effective replacement for formaldehyde for sanitizing of hatching eggs. A total of 23 sanitizers were applied at different concentrations and/or exposure times to broiler breeder hatching eggs prior to incubation. In replicate trials, eight groups of 90 hatching eggs per concentration level or per exposure time for each sanitizing procedure were tested. For all treatments except formaldehyde, Virkon, glutaraldehyde (Cidex), and ozone gas, there were three concentrations of sanitizer used: 1) low (half the recommended level); 2) recommended level; or 3) high (twice the recommended level). Eggs were dipped in the solutions for 10 minutes. Virkon was handled similarly, except an additional four-fold application of the recommended level was tested for 10 minutes. Formaldehyde treatments were made using a 1% formalin solution; eggs were dipped for 1, 5, or 10 minutes. Glutaraldehyde was used undiluted for 1 and 10 minutes. Ozone gas (3 levels of concentration) was applied for 3 hours. For all sanitizers tested at recommended levels, there were no gross toxic effects on embryo viability. However, sanitizers that contained components which lowered egg shell porosity (low moisture or weight loss), particularly at the highest concentrations tested, also increased early and late embryo mortality. Active ingredients of sanitizers tested in this study which influenced shell porosity were quaternary ammonia and surfactants (e.g., EDTA). In some cases, a definite “waxy” texture was evident on the eggs. Monitoring moisture loss as a method of assessing a sanitation program has proved to be important.