Effective Cleaning and Disinfection in Poultry Houses for Pathogen Control

This factsheet outlines Belgium's cleaning and disinfection (C&D) protocols for poultry houses, including hygienogram testing using agar contact plates and swabs to assess bacterial load. C&D must be performed after each production cycle, with sampling conducted 24–72 hours post-disinfection following proper ventilation and drying. Broilers require testing every three cycles (twice yearly), while layers and breeders must be tested before each cycle. The process involves seven steps: dry cleaning, detergent soaking, high-pressure washing, drying, chemical disinfection, complete drying, and bacterial load testing. Scores range from 0 to 5: below 1.5 allows new stock; 1.5–3.0 requires re-disinfection; above 3.0 triggers re-cleaning. Testing covers floors, feed systems, anterooms, and walls. Authorized laboratories, including HOSOWO-certified companies and veterinarians, conduct sampling and analysis for *Salmonella* and *Campylobacter*. The NETPOULSAFE project (EU Horizon 2020) provides additional resources at https://www.netpoulsafe.eu.