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Abstract
Ensuring a good air quality in pig farms is important for the health of animals and human workers. The aim of this
study was the assessment of the microbiological quality of the air inside the pig houses and outside of these. The
study was accomplished in two pig-fattening farms in Cluj County. The microbiological air quality was assessed in
the cold and warm season, by determination of the total counts of mesophilic bacteria, staphylococci, streptococci,
gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The bacterial and fungal counts varied in the air of the investigated farms. In
relation to the season the mean counts of bacteria and fungi were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the cold season.
No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found between the values of the parameters determined from the indoor
air and those obtained outside, from a distance of 5 m from the pig houses. The numbers of the bacteria and fungi in
the outdoor air lowered as the distance from the farms increased, the differences being significant at 25 and 50 m (P
< 0.05). The results of the study show a high bacterial contamination of the indoor and outdoor air of the pig farms.
Keywords: bacteria, fungi, microbial air contamination, pig farms.
1. Introduction
Ensuring good air quality in pig farms is important
for the health and welfare of animals and caretakers,
as well as for the external environment [1-3]. In pig
farms, animals and farm workers are exposed to
high concentrations of bacteria and fungi as well as
endotoxins and mycotoxins produced by them [4].
Airborne microorganisms may cause
various negative effects, especially
infectious and allergic diseases [2]. The
concentration of microorganisms in the indoor air
depends on many factors, such as the type of the
building, the number of animals, the ventilation type
and the microclimatic conditions [5- 7]. Improper
hygienic conditions may be causes of considerable
microbial air pollution in pig farms [8]. As a result,
controlling the microbiological quality of the air in
pig houses is extremely important and
Table 1. Airborne bacterial and fungal parameters in farm A (barns 1-3) in cold and warm season
Barn 1A
Season
Cold
Warm
Barn 2A
Parameter
Mean
(SD)
Median
(Range)
Mesophilic bacteria
5
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Staphylococci
4
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Streptococci
5
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Gram-negatives
2
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Fungi
4
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Mesophilic bacteria
4
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Staphylococci
3
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Streptococci
4
3
(x 10 CFU /m )
Gram-negatives
2
3
(x 10 CFU/m )
Fungi
4
3
(x 10 CFU/m )
3.51
(1.92)
4.82
(0.39)
1.91
(0.55)
7.62
(1.30)
7.23
(0.12)
5.21
(1.04)
6.06
(3.30)
3.93
(0.91)
3.12
(1.55)
2.00
(0.07)
3.09
(0.73-6.72)
4.92
(4.31-5.41)
1.84
(1.20-2.62)
8.00
(5.00-9.00)
0.735
(0.50-8.70)
*
1.04
(3.12-6.37)
3.30
(1.40-9.40)
9.15
(2.00-5.04)
1.55
(1.00-5.00)
7.55
(0.10-3.00)
Barn 3A
Mean
(SD)
Median
(Range)
6.57
(3.37)
4.43
(0.69)
5.30
(1.06)
8.12
(0.83)
0.897
(0.05)
7.24
(0.66)
3.36
(0.59)
5.96
(0.28)
37.5
(1.03)
0.32
(0.07)
7.32
(8.07-8.10)
4.47
(3.40-5.15)
5.38
(3.27-6.43)
8.00
(7.00-9.00)
0.885
(0.83-0.99)
*
7.30
(6.22-8.05)
3.30
(2.70-4.30)
5.95
(5.61-6.52)
4.00
(2.00-5.00)
0.30
(0.20-0.40)
Mean
(SD)
Median
(Range)
9.25
(0.47)
4.56
(0.40)
7.63
(0.44)
8.12
(0.83)
0.85
(0.05)
7.48
(0.50)
5.68
(0.46 )
6.65
(0.84 )
3.87
( 1.12)
0.21
(0.11)
9.31
(8.42-9.89)
4.59
(3.94-5.04)
7.76x105
(6.95-8.13)
8.00
(7.00-9.00)
8.40
(7.80-9.40)
*
7.43
(6.89-8.20)
5.60
(5.10-6.50)
6.71
(5.53-7.96)
4.00
(2.00-5.00)
0.20
(0.10-0.40)
Table 2. Airborne bacterial and fungal parameters in farm B (barns 1-2) in cold and warm season
Barn 1B
Barn 2B
Season
Parameter
Median
Range
Median
Range
Mean
Mean
(SD)
(SD)
*
*
Mesophilic bacteria
1.32
1.24
1.05-1.72
1.56
1.48
1.38 -1.82
6
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(0.21)
(0.17)
Staphylococci
2.42
2.60
1.89-2.73
2.92
2.90
1.71 -3.89
5
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(0.33)
(0.63)
8.80
8.89
7.43-9.41
9.18
9.33
7.93 -9.98
Streptococci
5
3
Cold
(x10 CFU/m )
(0.69)
(0.64)
Gram-negatives
8.50
8.50
7.00-10.00
7.50
7.50
5.00 -9.00
2
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(0.92)
(1.51)
Fungi
5.50
5.50
2.00-9.00
7.12
7.50
4.00 - 9.00
2
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(2.44)
(1.95)
*
*
Mesophilic bacteria
1.86
1.80
1.33 -2.63
1.79
1.75
1.49 -2.22
5
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(0.43)
(0.28)
Staphylococci
5.03
5.07
4.45 -5.49
4.21
4.22
4.02 -4.45
4
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(0.35)
(0.15)
1.50
1.54
1.23 -1.79
1.60
1.57
1.30 -2.01
Streptococci
5
3
Warm
(x10 CFU/m )
(0.19)
(0.26)
Gram-negatives
4.50
5.00
2.00 - 6
2.62
2.50
1.00 -4.00
2
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(1.19)
(1.30)
Fungi
1.53
1.37
1.03 -2.14
1.18
1.18
1.02 -1.30
4
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(0.48)
(0.09)
3
184
Table 3. The descriptive statistics for the parameters used to assess the outdoor air quality
in farm A in cold and warm season
Cold season
Warm season
Distance
Parameter
Mean
Median
Mean
Median
(SD)
(Range)
(SD)
(Range)
Mesophilic bacteria
163
161
19
18
3
3
(0.29)
(1.30-2.22)
(0.03)
(1.54-2.62)
(x 10 CFU/m )
Staphylococci
4.00
4.05
1.46
1.43
4
3
(0.48)
(3.14-4.77)
(0.16)
(1.25-1.71)
(x10 CFU/m )
5m
25 m
50 m
Streptococci
3
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Gram-negatives
2
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Fungi
2
3
(x 10 CFU/m )
Mesophilic bacteria
3
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Staphylococci
2
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Streptococci
2
3
(x 10 CFU/m )
3
Gram-negatives (CFU/m )
Fungi
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Mesophilic bacteria
3
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Staphylococci
2
3
(x10 CFU/m )
Streptococci
2
3
(x10 CFU/m )
3
Gram-negatives (CFU/m )
Fungi
3
(x10 CFU/m )
121.0
(13.0)
6.62
(1.59)
56.70
(9.3)
11.90
(3.7)
-
119.0
(107.0-148.0)
7.0
(4.0-9.0)
58.0
(40.0-68.0)
*
18.4
(14.2-26.2)
-
9.61
(0.86)
-
9.59
(8.43-10.8)
-
4.0
(0.3)
-
5.0
(3.97-5.04)
-
4.0
(0.4)
8.8
(3.9)
2.06
(1.33)
7.07
(1.04)
3.30 x 10
(1.60)
1.87
(0.32)
1.15
(0.24)
2.07
(0.55)
6.12
(2.70)
3.9
(3.4-4.8)
4.15
(5.0- 24.4)
1.80
(0.05-4)
6.95
(5.30-8.50)
3.50
(1.00-6.00)
1.96
(1.22-2.24)
1.15
(0.8-1.50)
2.05
(1.20-2.80)
6.50
(1.00-9.00)
Table 4. The descriptive statistics for the parameters used to assess the outdoor air quality
in farm B in cold and warm season
Cold season
Warm season
Distance
Parameter
Mean
Median
Mean
Median
(SD)
(Range)
(SD)
(Range)
Mesophilic bacteria
1330.0
1310.0
24.00
25.00
3
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(130.0)
(1190.0-1350.0)
(3.00)
(18.00-26.00)
Staphylococci
204.0
223.0
14.00
17.50
3
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(89.0)
(29.0-289.0)
(1.00)
(13.00-27.00 )
5m
Streptococci
4
3
(x 10 CFU/m )
62.20
(16.2)
4.25
(2.12)
4.87
(2.41)
475.0
(253.00)
444.0
(84.00)
274.0
(183.0)
-
61.00
(43.3-89.8)
4.50
(1.00-7.00)
5.50
(1.00-8.00)
*
390.0
(184.0-810.0 )
464.00
(323.0-541.0)
184.0
(121.0-643.0)
-
16.00
(0.2)
-
Gram-negatives
2
3
(x10 CFU/m )
118.00
Fungi
2
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(46.30)
19.00
Mesophilic bacteria
3
3
(3.00)
(x10 CFU/m )
5.00
Staphylococci
2
3
(0.7)
(x10 CFU/m )
25 m
Streptococci
1.90
2
3
(0.2)
(x 10 CFU/m )
3
Gram-negatives (CFU/m )
Fungi
20.00
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(7.60)
*
Mesophilic bacteria
3.14
1.60
2.62
3
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(2.10)
(0.11)
(1.28-7.43)
4.02
Staphylococci
2
3
(1.04)
(x10 CFU/m )
0.40
50 m
Streptococci
2
3
(0.20)
(x10 CFU/m )
3
Gram-negatives (CFU/m )
Fungi
6.00
3
(x10 CFU/m )
(2.90)
3
CFU/m = colony-forming units in one cubic metre of air. SD = standard deviation.
* P < 0.05 the difference is significant between inside and outside of the barns
186
1.68
(1.2-1.9)
126.0
(12.3-159)
18.4
(14.00-26.00)
4.8
(4.00-6.00)
0.30
(0.1-0.7)
17.5
(12.00-35.00)
1.58
(1.43-1.77)
4.15
(2.10-5.60)
0.40
(0.10-0.70)
6.00
(2.00-10.00)