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

Abstract

The investigation of bioaerosols in the recent years has become more important both indoors and outdoors. Due to expanding of livestock farm capacity, raising attention is paid to this source of emissions. 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 and Staphylococcus spp., especially the species S. 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 of Staphylococcus 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 for Staphylococcus 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 of Staphylococcus spp. fluctuated along the second measurement series. The species Staphylococcus 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.