The efficacy of 23 disinfectants (including the most commonly used chemical groups) and 6 quaternary ammonium compound based commercial formulations against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 (ATCC 4074) was studied. The organisms were tested in suspension and carrier tests with serum as the organic matter. Chloramine-T, hydrogen peroxide, glutaraldehyde, and mercurochrome alone, and a quatemary ammonium compound formulation containing 10% benzalkonium chloride, 2.5% glutaraldehyde, 6.8% glyoxal, and 6% formaldehyde were effective in all tests, regardless of the presence or absence of organic load. All but 2 of the nonformulated disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite and an iodophor) caused at least a 3-log10 reduction in colony-forming units in the suspension test. However, most of the disinfectants were not as effective in the carrier test as in the suspension test; this difference ranged from a 1- to 5-log10 reduction in colony-forming units. In addition, the presence of serum considerably reduced the disinfectant capacities of most of the compounds tested, particularly in the carrier test. These results indicate the importance of selecting suitable disinfectants for routine use on surfaces contaminated with this organism, especially in the presence of organic matter. Chloramine-T and the aforementioned commercial formulation were also tested directly under field conditions in pig nurseries, confirming their high effectiveness.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are well-known ascendant nosocomial pathogens. The recent detection of epidemiologic strain
carrying vanA gene in the community of people working with animals and in chickens has brought to the forefront the potential public health danger posed by these organism. The farm environment is a major source of VRE persistence in poultry farms. We carried out survival test to test the survival of the VRE isolates on dry condition and surface test to evaluate the inactivation of the isolates by in-use concentration of commonly used disinfectants. In the survival test, all isolates survived for at least 4 weeks in
colony counts of (1.00 × 103 – 3.86 × 103 CFU/ml) under clean condition and (1.00 × 103 – 2.02 × 104) for soiled condition.
Those that were suspended in 5% BSA solution to mimic organic matter load as obtainable on farms survived for at least 8 weeks at (1.54 × 102 – 1.34 × 103 CFU/ ml). In the surface test, inactivation of VRE isolates by in-use concentration of Lindores®, Omnicide® and Ecos Timsen® was tested using the European surface test (EST). All the tested disinfectants were active against the VRE isolates on both the standard test surface (stainless steel) and our test surface (wooden). The results shows microbiocidal effects (ME) for test disinfectants, i.e. the log10 CFU of micro-organisms compared between test biocide and control treated with distilled water, after 7 min of exposure as follows; Lindores® active on both surfaces 5.24 and 3.17, Ecos Timsen® active significantly on steel 4.90 than wood 2.98 and Omnicide® significantly less active on stainless steel
2.40 than on wood 3.50.

This paper reports on the laboratory animal population in the
Laboratory Animal Unit, Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Ipoh from 2005 to 2010. Laboratory Animal Unit is a complementary unit which serves to supply laboratory animals to all diagnostic and research units in VRI. The objective of this unit is to breed and produce laboratory animals such as rabbits, mice, rats, guinea
pigs and hamsters for research projects as well as diagnostic and biological activities. The unit also supplies laboratory animals to
private agencies, universities and schools. There are 6 species of laboratory animals in VRI namely rabbit (New Zealand Breed), guinea pig (Hartlay Strain), hamster (Golden Syrian), white mice (Swiss Albino), BALB/c mice and Sprague Dawley Rat. Management of the animals includes breeding, fertility, production and disease monitoring. Generally, white mice bred well and had a high population
from 2005 to 2010 compared to the other laboratory animals due to their short gestation period and large litter size. With the higher current demand for laboratory animals, the production of the unit is
expected to increase.