Microbial load of facilities for keeping pigs of different production groups

Abstract

The study analyzed the microbial load of objects in the facilities where pigs of different production groups were kept at the final stage of production cycles, immediately before disinfection measures. The study found that the number of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (MAFAnM) in the swabs from the surfaces of the studied objects varied from 5.00 to 6.88 log CFU/cm³. The lowest quantity of bacteria was found on drinkers and feeders, while the highest quantity was on the facilities’ floor. The average level of microbial load in the facilities for keeping sows, farrowing, and growing piglets ranged from 5.91 to 6.07 log CFU/cm³. The highest values were observed for the study of swabs taken in the piglet-rearing facility. The proportion of field isolates of the rod, cocci, and spiral shapes of microorganisms in the rearing facility was 62.1%, 28.8%, and 9.1%, respectively, in the farrowing facility — 63.9%, 29.2%, and 6.9%, and in the sow housing facility — 66.2%, 26%, and 7.8%. Escherichia coli was dominant in the rearing facility — 13.9% of isolates, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus subtilis, and Campylobacter jejuni — 9.7% each, and Citrobacter freundii, Enterococcus faecalis, and Enterococcus faecium — 8.3% each. In farrowing facilities, the proportion of E. coli isolates was 16.6%. 7.5% fewer isolates belonged to B. subtilis, Streptococcus salivarius, and C. jejuni, and 9% fewer isolates belonged to Klebsiella pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, E. faecalis, and E. faecium. In the sow housing facility, the proportion of E. coli isolates was 12.9%, the number of P. mirabilis isolates was 1.2% less, and C. freundii was 3.8% less