Microbiological analysis of indoor and outdoor air on a pig farm in Slavonia

Due to a large concentration of animals living in a relatively small area, air on pig farms can be contaminated by microorganisms which can have an adverse effect on the health of pigs and farm workers. There is also a possibility of spreading bioaerosol from the farm to the surrounding area which can become a problem for the surrounding populace. Since the concentration of microorganisms in the air around and on the farm can be increased, a microbiological control of indoor and outdoor air is necessary. If the standard values are exceeded, measures of contamination suppression must be taken. To ascertain the microbiological air quality on a pig farm in Slavonia, as well as the changes in the microbiological air quality when moving away from the farm, five samples were taken from the pig farm (nursing ground, feeding ground 1, feeding ground 2, breeding ground, farrowing ground) and four samples were taken 1.5, 5, 10 and 15 meters away from the farm. The sampling was done by impaction, using the SAS SUPER 90 in four iterations (n=36). At the same time, the FLUKE 975V AirMeter device was used to measure the temperature and relative humidity. All air samples were analyzed on a Sabouraud dextrose agar for mold cultivation, as well as on a blood agar for cultivation of aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), and these CFU/m3 values were compared to the standard values ("Diario da Republica n.° 235/2013, 1° Suplemento, Serie I de 2013-12-04"). The number of airborne aerobic mesophilic bacteria on all five farm locations was over the referential value prescribed by the common standards. By moving away from the farm, a drop in the number of airborne AMB was noted. The overall number of indoor air AMB was significantly higher (p>0.05) than in outdoor air. The amount of molds on two farm locations (nursing ground and feeding ground 1) also did not meet the criteria prescribed by the common standards. Just like AMB, a drop in the amount of mold was noted when moving away from the farm. However, there were no notable differences (p>0.05) in their number when comparing indoor and outdoor air.Due to a large concentration of animals living in a relatively small area, air on pig farms can be contaminated by microorganisms which can have an adverse effect on the health of pigs and farm workers. There is also a possibility of spreading bioaerosol from the farm to the surrounding area which can become a problem for the surrounding populace. Since the concentration of microorganisms in the air around and on the farm can be increased, a microbiological control of indoor and outdoor air is necessary. If the standard values are exceeded, measures of contamination suppression must be taken. To ascertain the microbiological air quality on a pig farm in Slavonia, as well as the changes in the microbiological air quality when moving away from the farm, five samples were taken from the pig farm (nursing ground, feeding ground 1, feeding ground 2, breeding ground, farrowing ground) and four samples were taken 1.5, 5, 10 and 15 meters away from the farm. The sampling was done by impaction, using the SAS SUPER 90 in four iterations (n=36). At the same time, the FLUKE 975V AirMeter device was used to measure the temperature and relative humidity. All air samples were analyzed on a Sabouraud dextrose agar for mold cultivation, as well as on a blood agar for cultivation of aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), and these CFU/m3 values were compared to the standard values ("Diario da Republica n.° 235/2013, 1° Suplemento, Serie I de 2013-12-04"). The number of airborne aerobic mesophilic bacteria on all five farm locations was over the referential value prescribed by the common standards. By moving away from the farm, a drop in the number of airborne AMB was noted. The overall number of indoor air AMB was significantly higher (p>0.05) than in outdoor air. The amount of molds on two farm locations (nursing ground and feeding ground 1) also did not meet the criteria prescribed by the common standards. Just like AMB, a drop in the amount of mold was noted when moving away from the farm. However, there were no notable differences (p>0.05) in their number when comparing indoor and outdoor air