Technical note: concentration and composition of airborne aerobic bacteria inside an enclosed rabbit shed

S. Li

China

College of Basic Medicine, Taishan Medical University

M.Y. Li

China

Qingdao Kangda Food Company

T. Mu

China

Qingdao Kangda Food Company

Z.M. Miao

China

College of Life Sciences, Taishan Medical University

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Accepted: 2016-01-05

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Published: 2016-03-22

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2016.4170

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Keywords:

airborne aerobic bacteria, dominant species, opportunistic pathogens, aerodynamics

Supporting agencies:

The National Natural Science Foundation of China

Abstract:

Numerous studies have been conducted to analyse bacterial aerosols in animal houses, which is beneficial for the control of animal diseases. However, little information on aerosols in enclosed rabbit sheds was available. An FA-1 sampler was employed to collect air samples in an enclosed rabbit house in the Qingdao region of China. Concentration, composition, and aerodynamics of bacterial aerosols inside the enclosed rabbit shed were systematically analysed. The concentration of airborne bacteria inside the rabbit shed was 2.11-6.36×104 colony forming unit/m3 (CFU/m3). Seventeen species of bacteria belonging to eight genera were identified. Among these, there were 11 species belonging to 4 genera of gram-positive bacteria, and 6 species belonging to 4 genera of gram-negative bacteria. The dominant species of bacteria were, in descending order, Micrococcus luteus (49.4%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (25.5%), and Alcaligenes odorans (10.2%). A total of about 76.3% of airborne bacteria was distributed in stages C-F of the FA-1 sampler (that ranges from A to F), with aerodynamic radii <3.3 μm in diameter. These particulates could enter lower respiratory tracks and even alveoli, posing a potential threat to the health of both animals and breeders.

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