Zoonotic disease control

Infection control in your clinic

The tray your last patient used is a risk to your next one.

Zoonotic pathogens don’t stay with the animal that carried them in. They transfer to surfaces, trays, and equipment — and from there to the next patient, or to you. It’s a known, documented risk. And one of the simplest places to address it is the tray.

60%

Of all human pathogens are zoonotic in origin

WHO / Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2025

1 in 4

Veterinarians report contracting a zoonosis from their own practice

JAVMA, 2024

91%

Of vets reported occupational exposure to zoonotic pathogens

ScienceDirect, Finland study

Where the risk lives in your clinic

Contaminated surfaces and equipment

Zoonotic pathogens transfer from animals to trays, tools, and examination surfaces through direct contact, body fluids, and fecal matter. A study in veterinary ophthalmology found an overall contamination rate of 32.9% across equipment and exam room surfaces — with drug-resistant MRSP present in over 8% of samples.

Source: PMC / Bacterial Cross-Contamination in Veterinary Ophthalmology, 2021

Your team is a high-risk group

Veterinary professionals face daily occupational exposure through inhalation, skin contact, and handling of contaminated materials. The most commonly reported zoonoses in clinical settings include campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, ringworm, and cryptosporidiosis — all of which can survive on hard surfaces.

Source: Tandfonline / Veterinarians and Zoonotic Pathogens, Finland, 2024

Reused trays as a transmission vector

Standard reusable trays require washing, scrubbing, and chemical disinfection between patients. Incomplete disinfection — whether due to time pressure, staff shortage, or human error — leaves a residual contamination risk that carries directly to the next patient.

Source: MSD Veterinary Manual / Occupational Hazards in Veterinary Medicine, 2025

The WHO estimates that 75% of new and emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin. Veterinary clinics sit at the front line of that interface — every day.

How VOLKOS closes the gap

One tray. One patient. No transfer.

Each VOLKOS tray is used for a single patient and then disposed of. There is no reprocessing step — and therefore no window for incomplete disinfection. The contamination chain stops at the tray.

No chemicals — no chemical resistance risk

Repeated use of disinfectants contributes to antimicrobial resistance in clinical environments. Disposable VOLKOS trays eliminate the need for chemical cleaning entirely — removing one contributing factor to resistance buildup in your clinic.

Regulatory compliance for high-risk procedures

Disposable trays are a required standard for certain procedures including anaesthesia & recovery and post-X-ray care. VOLKOS meets those requirements by design — with no additional protocol changes needed.

FSC-certified, chemical-free disposal

100% biodegradable and free of chemical treatments. Safe to dispose of without specialist waste handling — simplifying your end-of-use protocol as much as your hygiene one.

Clinical and operational benefits

Zero cross-contamination between patients

No shared surface. No residual pathogen load. No risk of an incomplete clean.

60% less staff cleaning time

Time your clinical team was spending on tray disinfection goes back to patient care.

Protects your team, not just patients

Reducing surface contamination lowers occupational exposure for every member of your staff.

Up to 70% cost reduction

Eliminates cleaning supplies, water usage, and labour — at lower cost than reusable alternatives.

Supplied B2B in boxes of 30 trays with direct clinic delivery. No minimum order for your first trial.

“The tray is one of the most frequently touched surfaces in a veterinary clinic — and one of the least controlled. We built VOLKOS to make that control effortless.”

— Priit Saarniit, Co-founder, VOLKOS

Statistics cited are drawn from peer-reviewed publications and institutional reports including the WHO, JAVMA (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association), Frontiers in Veterinary Science, MSD Veterinary Manual, and published clinical studies. Full references available on request.

Ready to eliminate the reusable tray risk?

Let’s talk through your current infection control protocols in 20 minutes — and show you exactly where VOLKOS fits in.