Remarkable Inhibition Efficacy of a Compound Plant Essential Oil Disinfectant Against Bacteria, Viruses, and Mycoplasmas

Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms have caused serious economic losses to animal husbandry, and the use of appropriate disinfectants is crucial for eliminating these pathogens. Plant essential oils (PEOs), as natural bioproducts, have the characteristics of safety, non-toxicity, and broad spectrum. In this study, the inhibition efficacies against bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasmas of a compound PEO disinfectant (designated as Lei-Huo-Fu) were evaluated through determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal rate against <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and <i>Salmonella</i> spp.; inactivation rate of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV); as well as determination of MIC of <i>Mycoplasma gallisepticum</i> (MG) and <i>Mycoplasma synoviae</i> (MS). The results showed that the MIC values of the PEO disinfectant against <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Staphylococcus</i>, and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. were as low as 0.00375 µg/mL to 0.03 µg/mL. The bactericidal rates against <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. reached over 95% within 30 min at a concentration of 0.03 µg/mL. For three dominant prevalent genotype strains of LX4-type, Mass-type, and Taiwan-type of IBV, the inactivation rates achieved by the PEO disinfectant at a concentration of 0.015 µg/mL and a disinfection time of 30 min were all above 99.9%. The MIC of the PEO disinfectant against MG and MS was 0.001875 µg/mL and 0.00375 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, the compound PEO disinfectant (Lei-Huo-Fu) has significant inhibitory effects on bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasmas, and possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. However, it is important to note that these findings are based on laboratory assays, and the efficacy in practical settings, along with the exact mechanisms of action, require further investigation. In this study, the compound PEO disinfectant demonstrates promising in vitro efficacy, suggesting its potential as a candidate for development into a safe, efficient, and natural disinfectant, pending further validation.