Original scientific paper
Distribution of Airborne Bacteria in Swine Housing Facilities and Their Immediate Environment
Vitomir Bilić
Boris Habrun
Ivo Barač
Andrea Humski
Abstract
This paper describes a bacteriological analysis of air samples taken from swine housing facilities and the immediate environment. The air volume of the samples was pre-programmed by a standard air sampler (MAS-100, Merck) and was directly impacted onto the bacteriologic agar surface (Petri dishes, standard diameter of 90 mm). The bacterial contamination in forty-eight samples was 2.59x105 CFU/m3 (ranging from 8.46x104 to 5.30x105 CFU/m3). Potentially pathogenic bacterial agents predominated in all samples (100%), while primarily pathogenic bacteria were isolated in a minor proportion of samples (33%–66%). Airborne bacterial contamination in samples (N=16) obtained from emptied facilities ranged from 1.8x103 CFU/m3 (that is, after coarse mechanical washing) to 0.8x102 CFU/m3 (upon completion of disinfection). Control measurements at different locations and distance from the farm (N=32) pointed to the presence of non-pathogenic airborne bacteria, ranging from 1.55x102 to 3.70x102 CFU/m3. The results of this preliminary study showed that the emission of potentially pathogenic bacteria from animal housing facilities to the immediate farm environment via aerosol was very low.
Keywords
bacteriological analysis; farm environment; pathogenic agents
Hrčak ID:
844
URI
Publication date:
6.11.2000.
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