Storage Stability and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Veterinary Disinfectants Under Simulated Field Conditions

Despite the expanding use of disinfectants globally, their inadequate storage and management remain critical challenges in livestock biosecurity. In this study, we evaluated the stability and antimicrobial efficacy of four commonly used disinfectants under different storage conditions. Citric acid (CA), sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), hydrogen peroxide plus peracetic acid (H2O2 + PAA), and glutaraldehyde (GA) were stored under protected, sunlight-exposed, and sunlight-exposed with ventilation conditions. The active ingredient concentrations were measured at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 days. Antimicrobial efficacy against Salmonella Typhimurium was evaluated in carrier tests using 3% bovine serum albumin as the organic matter. Descriptive linear regression was used to characterize concentration–efficacy associations and to estimate concentrations corresponding to a modelled 4-log reduction under the tested carrier-test conditions. Under protected storage, H2O2 + PAA showed the greatest concentration stability, whereas NaDCC showed the greatest loss under sunlight exposure with ventilation. Sunlight exposure with ventilation accelerated degradation, but NaDCC maintained antimicrobial efficacy despite concentration loss. CA showed the fastest decline in efficacy under some storage conditions, indicating greater sensitivity to concentration changes under the tested carrier-test conditions. Collectively, these findings highlight the importance of disinfectant-specific storage protocols and selection criteria in livestock biosecurity programs, suggesting that disinfectant performance should be interpreted in relation to storage conditions.