Bioaerosol measurements over a fattening period in a pig barn focused on the presence of Staphylococcus spp.

The objective of the present study was to estimate the distribution of bioaerosols in the animal husbandry and its surroundings. Over 2 fattening periods with different animal ages and weights, the main emphasis was put on the total concentrations of mesophilic bacteria andStaphylococcus spp., especially the speciesS. aureus. The bioaerosols were sucked in with an AGI-30 Impinger, and nasal and neck skinfold swab samples were collected supplementary from randomly selected pigs. From the first series of measurements, the total concentration of mesophilic bacteria was 6.2  × 105 cfu/m3 and dropped to 2.6  × 105 cfu/m3 with increasing growth of the swine. The concentration ofStaphylococcus spp. was 8.8  × 104 cfu/m3 and decreased to 9.4  × 103 cfu/m3 by the end. In the empty barn, the total concentration of mesophilic bacteria was 9.1  × 104 cfu/m3 and forStaphylococcus spp., 1.1  × 104 cfu/m3. At the beginning of the second series of measurements, the total concentration of mesophilic bacteria was 6.6  × 104 cfu/m3 and dropped to 4.4  × 104 cfu/m3 with the increasing growth of the piglets. The concentrations ofStaphylococcus spp. fluctuated along the second measurement series. The speciesStaphylococcus aureus was detected in nasal swabs of selected swine including MRSA. Temperature and humidity had no influence on the concentrations of mesophilic bacteria in the swine barn.
Source: Aerobiologia - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research