Effectiveness of Cleaning and Sanitation of Stable Environment and Riding Equipment Following Contamination With Streptococcus equi Subsp. equi.

The research article investigates the effectiveness of sanitation processes in eradicating Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) bacteria from commonly found materials and equipment in horse stables.

Introduction to the Study

• This study revolves around the transmission of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi), a bacterium, through contact with infected horses or fomites—objects that are likely to carry infection, such as equipment or surfaces in stables.
• Effective cleaning and sanitation methods are fundamental to minimize the risk of infections spread via these fomites.
• The focus of this study is to investigate how effective cleaning and sanitation are in eradicating S. equi from contaminated materials and stables equipment.

Methodology

• A variety of materials commonly found in stables, namely wood, concrete, plastic, leather halters, leather gloves, and polyester webbing halters, were infected with S. equi laboratory strains cultured over 24 hours.
• Some selected materials were also contaminated with clinical strains of S. equi.
• After three days post-inoculation, all materials were examined for the presence of viable S. equi. Additionally, sections of each material were cleaned and sanitized.
• An additional evaluation was done two days post-clean, for both treated and untreated materials, to measure continued retention of viable S. equi.
• A subsection of polyester halter material was washed at different temperatures, some tumble dried at 70C while some weren’t, to assess the impact of various procedures on the presence of bacteria.

Findings

• Post sanitation, all samples with the exception of polyester halters, were found devoid of S. equi.
• Even without cleaning, leather seemed to hinder the survival of S. equi.
• When polyester halters were washed at 40C and dried at 70C, 14 out of 16 retained live S. equi, showing considerable resistance to sanitation efforts. Nevertheless, washing at 60C resulted in S. equi-free halters.

Conclusion

• Routine cleaning and sanitation procedures were found to be generally effective at eliminating S. equi from contaminated fomites.
• However, the effectiveness varied depending on the material and the strain of S. equi, with leather showing an innate resistance to S. equi colonization even without sanitation, and polyester halters retaining bacteria even after washing at 40C.