Particulate matter and airborne endotoxin concentration in calf barns and their association with lung consolidation, inflammation, and infection

ABSTRACT Agricultural operations are important sources of organic dust containing particulate matter (PM) and endotoxins, which have possible negative health consequences for both humans animals. Dust concentrations composition in calf barns, as well the potential effects these animals, scarcely documented. The objective this study was to measure PM fractions endotoxin barns their associations with lung consolidation, respiratory tract inflammation, infection group-housed calves. In cross-sectional study, samples from 24 dairy farms 23 beef were collected Belgium January April 2017. PM1.0, PM2.5 PM10 (defined passing through a size-selective inlet 50% efficiency cut-off at 1.0-μm, 2.5-μm, 10-μm aerodynamic diameter, respectively) sampled during 24-h period using Grimm aerosol spectrometer (Grimm Aerosol Technik Ainring GmbH & Co. KG). Endotoxin concentration measured fraction. Thoracic ultrasonography performed broncho-alveolar lavage fluid cytology bacteriology. Average 16.3 µg/m3 (standard deviation, SD: 17.1; range: 0.20–771), 25.0 (SD: 25.3; 0.50–144.9), 70.3 54.5; 1.6–251.2) PM2.5, PM10, respectively. Mean fraction 4.2 units (EU)/µg 5.50; 0.03–30.3). Concentrations air 205.7 EU/m3 197.5; 2.32–901.0). Lung consolidations depth ≥1, ≥3, ≥6 cm present 43.1% (146/339), 27.4% (93/339), 15.3% (52/339) calves, Exposure fine (PM1.0) associated increased odds ≥1 (odds ratio, OR: 3.3; confidence interval (CI): 1.5–7.1), ≥3 (OR: 2.8; CI: 1.2–7.1), 12.3; 1.2–125.0). having 13.9; 3.4–58.8) 6.7; 1.7–27.0) higher when mass exceeded 8.5 EU/µg. Broncho-alveolar neutrophil percentage positively concentration, epithelial cell negatively Concentration isolation Pasteurella multocida. Although lower than poultry pig housings, they pneumonia control strategies reducing may benefit human animal health.