Falcons and falconry have formed an integral part of life of the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula for thousands of years. In the past, Bedouin tribesmen, during the winter months, used to trap, train and hunt with migratory falcons in order to supplement their basic diet. The falcons were subsequently released in the spring, as the caring of these falcons throughout the year could strain their already limited resources. Today, after the hunting season, Arab falconers keep their falcons in air-conditioned rooms or aviaries during the long moulting months so they can be used again for the following season. As a byproduct of this change of attitude, a substantially large population of hunting falcons are kept in captivity every year throughout the Gulf countries. The need for professional health care to such a large captive population of falcons prompted the creation of modern falcon hospitals in most countries of the region.

Falcon hospitals in the Gulf, in common with other medical facilities dedicated to the exclusive care and treatment of avian species somewhere else, are exposed to a wide range of pathogens from incoming out-patients. The need of designing and implementing a biosecurity programme that could prevent propagation and the spread of pathogens throughout the facility cannot be underestimated.

Housing a large number of falcons (e.g. falcon hospital, moulting facility and breeding programme) within the same facility could represent a potential risk of infection if a comprehensive biosecurity programme is not implemented.

One of the main pillars of any biosecurity programme is disinfection which could be defined as a procedure intended to eliminate, from a particular defined area, any pathogenic organism or to render them inert with one or a combination of chemicals. There are many products available in the market that could be used within a biosecurity programme. However, the authors have found F10 disinfectant products to be ideal for such undertaking due to its safety and non-corrosive properties and the unique synergic activity of its quaternary ammonium and biguanadine compounds acting against a wide range of viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores.

The following is an account of the uses of F10 products in our biosecurity programme used in our falcon medical facility.

Footbaths should be installed in all entrance/exits of the quarantine station and isolation and hospital wards. F10SC is normally used diluted 1:250 and placed in shallow fibreglass or plastic trays. Very often a pad of plastic matting (Astroturf™) is placed within the tray in order to help cleaning the sole of soiled protective shoes. It is highly recommended to clean the tray and replace the solution everyday if the use is intensive. During the summer months, it is recommended to place the footbaths within the facilities to avoid evaporation due to prevalent hot and dry weather conditions.

All rooms within a clinic or a hospital facility should be disinfected using a commercially available fogging unit two or three times a week or daily as required. The objective is to eliminate or drastically reduced airborne pathogens and to disinfect all contact surfaces and inaccessible or difficult to reach areas. Fogging has been particularly important in clinical examination and post-mortem room facilities during the handling of suspected cases of Newcastle disease and avian influenza. The recommended dilution commonly used for fogging is 1:250 using either F10SC for post-cleansing disinfection or F10CXD for a more comprehensive cleansing and disinfection procedure.

During the falconry season, hundreds of falcons are admitted in falcon specialist hospitals in the Middle East for clinical examination or for treatment. In the course of a normal day, it is not uncommon to handle 20 to 40 or more falcons undergoing a diverse array of clinical conditions including trichomonosis, aspergillosis, Newcastle disease and avian pox. The need of implementing an adequate disinfection protocol of work tops, tables, door handles, sink and others cannot be overemphasized. Adequate disinfection can be carried out using a hand spray using F10SC or F10CXD in a dilution 1:250 and disposable paper towels.