DISTRIBUTION OF MICROORGANISMS IN THE AIR WITHIN POULTRY FARMHOUSE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Microorganisms associated with specific environments could be transferred long distances away from source. Air around poultry farms was sampled using the still settling method. Sampling was carried out during the dry and rainy seasons in Southwest Nigeria. The samplings were done within poultry houses and at tangential distances of 100, 200 and 300 meters away from the poultry house. Results show differences in air flora within and outside the poultry houses. There were also differences based on distance from the poultry house. Some bacteria isolated inside poultry houses during dry season were not found outside the poultry. Most bacteria isolated from air inside during rainy season were not present in the air farthest away from the poultry houses. There was however some overlap with Micrococcus sedentarius isolated from one poultry house and 100 meters away during dry season and 200 meters away during rainy season. Staphylococcus chromogenes was also isolated from one poultry house and at 300 meters away. Distance from the poultry farms seemed to have more effect on bacteria distribution in air during dry season. Fungi species on the other hand were more evenly distributed at all sampled points during the dry season. More fungi species were present during rainy season but some species found inside poultry houses were absent from air at distances away from the houses. Fungi isolated included Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium sp., Mucor sp. and Rhodotorula sp. Results indicate that poultry farm houses contribute to the air flora in their environment.