Analyses of Airborne Contamination with Bacteria, Endotoxins and Dust in Livestock Barns and Poultry Houses

B. Bakut is , E. Monstvi l iene, G. Januskeviciene: Analyses of Airborne Contamination with Bacteria, Endotoxins and Dust in Livestock Barns and Poultry Houses. Acta Vet. Brno 2004, 73: 283-289. In the air of livestock houses different amounts of microorganisms are present along with dust. The aim of this study was to compare results of quantitative analyses of airborne bacteria, endotoxins and dust in livestock and poultry houses. In insulated cowsheds for dairy cows the average amount of microorganisms and gram-negative bacteria were higher than in uninsulated cowsheds (p < 0.01). Average amounts of microorganisms and gram-negative bacteria in pig and poultry houses were higher than in insulated and uninsulated cowsheds (p < 0.01), and the air of pig and poultry houses was more contaminated with endotoxins than that of insulated and uninsulated cowsheds (p < 0.01). In insulated cowsheds the concentration of dust was higher than in uninsulated cowsheds (p < 0.01). In pig and poultry houses the concentration of dust was higher than in insulated and uninsulated cowsheds (p < 0.01). We detected a close connection among the amount of dust and airborne bacteria and their endotoxins in air of livestock and poultry houses. There is a need for further reducing the emission of environmentally harmful substances. Precise data of this type are of importance for licensing new animal farms as well as residential areas in the farming environment. Airborne bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, insulated, cowsheds, pig houses, poultry houses Dust and microorganisms with different admixtures are abundant in the air of livestock houses (Zucker et al. 2000a), and the amount of endotoxins in the samples of air is related to intensive microbial pollution of the environment. During the development of gramnegative bacteria as well as due to their autolysis or phagocyte activity endotoxins spread in the environment and accumulate in dust, on the surface of buildings as well as in the air (Afanasyeva 1997). The term “endotoxin” found in literature means the definition of lipopolysaccharide complex, related to the structure of membrane of gram-negative bacteria. So, endotoxins are a part of external membrane of E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Haemophilus and other gram-negative bacteria (Rietschel et al. 1993; Heederik et al. 1997; Hartung et al. 1999; Zucker et al. 2000a). Definition of lipopolysaccharides indicates that they are stable, water-soluble molecules, made of lipid A, O-specific chains and polysaccharide nucleus. Lipid A is a chemical compound, which consists of glucosamine disaccharide, PO4 group, acylic chain and inner core with KDO (2keto-3-deoxysioctanoic acid) (Si tnikov et al. 1997). Lipopolysaccharides of gramnegative bacteria determine biological features of endotoxins, toxicity is determined by lipidic part of LPS, and imunogenetics is conditioned by polysaccharide components (Rietschel et al. 1993). Quantitative analyses of endotoxins are performed in animal housings in many countries in Europe, in the USA, and Canada. Concentrations of endotoxins transmitted in air differ not only in different environments, but also in the same environment depending on ACTA VET. BRNO 2004, 73: 283-289 Address for correspondence: B. Bakutis Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Food Sanitation Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, TilÏès 18 LT-3022 Kaunas, Lithuania Phone: + 370 37 363 208 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.vfu.cz/acta-vet/actavet.htm