Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
UV light in kitten nurseries cuts upper respiratory infections
By Jaynes, Robyn A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2020·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation of the air on the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in kittens in a nursery.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of kittens aged 4 to 8 weeks in a nursery had a significant drop in upper respiratory infections (URIs) after UV germicidal lights were installed to disinfect the air. In 2016, before the UV lights were used, 12.4 out of every 100 kittens developed URIs. By 2018, with the UV systems in place, that number fell to just 1.6 cases per 100 kittens, showing an impressive 87% reduction. This suggests that using UV lights can help prevent the spread of respiratory infections among young kittens in crowded settings.
People also search for: kitten upper respiratory infection prevention · UV light for kitten nursery · how to reduce URI in kittens
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of UV germicidal irradiation of the air on the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) in kittens in a nursery. ANIMALS: 4- to 8-week-old kittens admitted to a kitten nursery in 2016 and 2018. PROCEDURES: 2 UV germicidal irradiation systems (1 within the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and 1 attached to the ceiling) were installed in a kitten nursery. Data were collected on the number of kittens in which a URI was diagnosed by means of a physical examination. The incidence of URIs was compared between 2016, when no UV systems were used, and 2018, when the UV systems were used. RESULTS: The overall incidence of URIs in 2016 was 12.4 cases/100 kitten admissions and in 2018 was 1.6 cases/100 kitten admissions, a significant decrease of 87.1% between the years. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A significant reduction in the incidence of URIs in kittens in a nursery was noted when the UV germicidal irradiation systems were used. Therefore, airborne transmission of feline respiratory pathogens may be more important than has been previously recognized. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems that disinfect the air may be an effective adjunct to standard infection prevention and control protocols in reducing the risk of the transmission of respiratory pathogens among kittens in nurseries and shelters. However, additional studies are needed to confirm the findings reported here.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33064607/