The Air Quality in Pig Growing and Fattening Shelters

摘要

Hygienic air quality is an important factor in modern pig farms because it represents one of the abiotic components necessary for the health and welfare of animals (Duchaine et al. 2000). Namely, air in the facilities can serve as a reservoir for primary and potentially pathogenic microorganisms that are important in the etiology of infectious and allergic diseases (Wathes, 1994). This studys aim was to determine the air quality in pig growing and fattening shelters. The investigations were made in 3 shelters in a farm of approximately 3000 heads in Cluj county, in April 2009. The air quality was assessed through the total number of germs (TNG), number of Streptococci, Staphylococci, Gram negative germs and fungi. The numbers of bacteria and fungi were determinated by the sedimentation method. The TNG ranged from 5,94 x 10 5 to 7,59 x 10 5 ; the number of Staphylococci had a domain from 8,48 x 103 to 2,87 x 10; the number of Streptococci was between 4,14x10 and 5,82x10; the Gram negatives between 5,5 x 10 and 3,14 x 10; and the number of fungi ranged from 3,14 x 10 to 2,84 x 10, respectively. Our results are in accordance with those obtained by other studies, excepting the numbers of Streptococci and fungi. Highly variable data on the total number of bacteria in the fattening unit, ranging from 104 to 106 CFU/m3 (Chang et al., 2001), have been published. The numbers of Streptococci and of the fungi are higher comparative to other studies determinations (Chang et al., 2001; Donham 1991). Within the germs with hygienical significance, the Streptococci had the highest density, representing between 70 and 97% inside the TNG. The obtained results indicate both the necessity of air disinfection in the investigated shelters and the need of general disinfection, taking into account the fact that Streptococci represents a contamination indicator of air, especially for naso-pharyngeal and buccal microflora.