Abstract
ABSTRACT This study aimed at evaluating if essential oils misted in broiler houses reduce environmental fungi counts. The investigation was conducted in three experimental rooms, where broiler chickens were reared between 1 to 42 d of age. Every three days, the rooms were fogged with pure water (control) or with aqueous solutions of peppermint or thyme oils. On the next day, fogging samples from the air, flat surfaces, and litter were collected and quantitatively and qualitatively analysed for fungal contamination. The treatment with essential oils showed promising results. In the room fogged with thyme oil, aerial fungi growth was not as evident as in the control room, and presented the lowest average fungi count. Thyme oil was also the most effective in reducing fungi colonization on drinker surfaces and litter. The use of peppermint oil also reduced the population of air, wall, surface and litter fungi, although some exceptions were noted. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Saccharomyces genera were identified most frequently. The effect of essential oils was noticeable in the last two weeks, when the counts of Aspergillus sp. were 75% (thyme oil) and 46% (peppermint oil) lower in comparison with the control group. The results show that fogging broiler houses with essential oils may be an effective prevention method against fungal aerosol in broiler houses. However, further investigations to determine the synergistic effect of different oils and their compounds, and the best possible doses and methods of application in the field are needed.
Highlights
The specific microclimate inside poultry houses contributes to an above-average concentration of biological contamination (Seedorf et al, 1998; Vučemilo et al, 2007; Witkowska & Sowińska, 2013)
One d after essential-oil fogging, the concentration of air fungi in the control and thyme oil groups was similar, and oscillated around 2.5 – 2.9 log10 colony forming units (CFU)/m3, whereas the fungal contamination of the air in the room fogged with peppermint oil decreased
The presence of wall fungi in particular weeks of chicken growing was not determined in the room fogged with peppermint oil
Summary
The specific microclimate inside poultry houses contributes to an above-average concentration of biological contamination (Seedorf et al, 1998; Vučemilo et al, 2007; Witkowska & Sowińska, 2013). Factors, such as the high temperature and humidity of air and litter, as well as the high number of large birds, contribute for the formation of fungal aerosol (Russel & Paluchowska-Święcka, 2008; Witkowska et al, 2010). Broiler houses are infested by fungi of the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium
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