OBJECTIVE:The noninvasive biomarkers of respiratory impairment were assessed in 15 swine confinement (SC) workers and 9 respiratory healthy, nonsmoking volunteers (HV).
METHODS:Spirometry, fraction ...of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH were assessed in SC workers after one working shift and one working week and in HV after 5-hour exposure in SC.
RESULTS:Half of the respiratory symptoms (in 8 of 15 SC workers) were work-related. Basal FeNO values were 7.5 ppb higher in the SC workers compared with HV. In the SC workers, EBC pH increased for 0.17 at the end of a working week (P < 0.001). In HV, 5-hour exposure in SC induced 8% drop in forced expiratory flow at 25% of the pulmonary volume (FEF25) (P = 0.008), EBC pH drop for 0.10 units (P = 0.003), and FeNO drop by 1.8 ppb (P = 0.047).
CONCLUSIONS:EBC pH was suggested as a biomarker of acute airway acidification in HV, whereas the SC workers showed signs of the “healthy worker effect.”
Purpose
The aim of the study was to evaluate exposure to moulds and house dust mite
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
in poultry farms, and related health effects in poultry workers (PW).
Methods
The ...study involved 41 PW and 45 control office workers. Working environment was evaluated for
D. pteronyssinus
allergen (Der p 1), moulds and endotoxin. In workers, eye, skin and respiratory symptoms, ventilatory lung function, atopy markers (skin prick test to inhalatory allergens, total IgE) and specific IgG to moulds were assessed.
Results
Der p 1 levels ranged <0.1–3.3 μg/g, exposure to fungi was 4.9 × 10
3
–6.8 × 10
4
cfu/m
3
, with prevailing
Aspergillus
,
Penicillium
and
Mucor
species, and endotoxin levels ranged 230–284 EU/m
3
. In comparison to control subjects, significantly higher prevalence of work-related nose, asthma, eye and skin symptoms, and slight decline in ventilatory lung function was found in PW. PW had significantly higher prevalence of IgG antibodies to moulds comparing to controls (63 vs. 36%, respectively,
P
= 0.01), especially to
Alternaria
and
Aspergillus
species. The prevalence of atopy markers in PW was lower than in population-based studies.
Conclusions
Hazardous levels of Der p 1, endotoxin and moulds were determined in poultry houses. High prevalence of work-related symptoms and IgG antibodies to moulds was found in PW. Healthy worker effect is proposed as an explanation of low atopy markers prevalence among PW.
In the present study, postural behaviour was compared between gilts kept in service unit with different types of flooring during all seasons. The study included four 28-day production cycles and 10 ...gilts per cycle, equally divided into a control and an experimental group. Control gilts were housed in gestation stalls with slatted concrete floor, whereas in the experimental group the floor was covered with an adjusted rubber mat. Postural behaviour of gilts was observed 4 times per cycle for 4 hours. Study results showed that during cooler seasons, gilts in concrete stalls spent more time standing and lying sternally, whereas gilts in matted stalls were mostly lying, predominantly laterally (P<0.001 all). There were no significant between group differences according to the time the gilts spent sitting or the frequency of changing posture in any season observed. Nevertheless, experimental animals spent significantly less time changing standing to both lying positions during all seasons (P<0.01 all). In conclusion, rubber mats may improve lying comfort in gilts; however, when using rubber mats, the house thermal conditions should be taken in consideration.
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of rubber mats in service unit on displaying stereotypies in gilts. Four 28-day production cycles in all seasons were observed. Each cycle included 28 ...gilts housed in gestation stalls with slatted concrete floor, which was covered with adjusted mats for 14 gilts (experimental group), while the remaining 14 gilts served as controls. Display of stereotypies and other behaviours observed, mat manipulation and postural behaviours were estimated by direct 1-hour observation of gilts at 2-minute intervals after morning feed supply on days 1, 8, 15 and 28 of each cycle. During the study period, displaying stereotypies was significantly less frequent (P < 0.05) in experimental group as compared with control group. The rate of particular forms of stereotypies, i.e. vacuum chewing, bar biting and teeth grinding, was also significantly lower (P < 0.05 all) in experimental group throughout the study period. A significant negative correlation (P <.05) was found between the service unit air temperature and frequency of displaying stereotypies in control group, which could be attributed to the significantly more common standing posture (P < 0.05) in control gilts in the conditions of lower air temperature. During the cold period, experimental gilts took a lying position significantly more frequently (P < 0.05). In the experimental group of gilts there was no significant correlation (P > 0.05 all) between the frequency of displaying stereotypies and the frequency of lying and other postures observed, as well as between the stereotypy display and the air temperature. There was no significant correlation (P > 0.05 all) between the frequency of mat manipulation and displaying stereotypies in total or its particular forms, suggesting that the less pronounced stereotypy display in experimental gilts may have been influenced by factors other than those observed in the present study.
Airborne Fungi in Dwellings for Dairy Cows and Laying Hens Matković, Kristina (Department of Animal Hygiene, Environment and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia); Vu _emilo, Marija (Department of Animal Hygiene, Environment and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia); Vinković, Bara (Laboratory for Ecology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia)
Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju,
12/2009, Letnik:
60, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The air of animal dwellings can contain great amounts of bioaerosol composed of dust, bacteria, fungi, and endotoxins. The composition may depend on animal species, building construction, animal ...accommodation, and microclimate parameters, to name just a few factors. Pathogens contained may be a serious threat to animal and human health.The aim of our study was to analyse the fungi aerosol content in a stable housing dairy cows and in a coop for laying hens over the three autumn months of 2007. The air was sampled on Petri dishes with Sabouraud glucose agar. After laboratory treatment, we identified the most common fungi. Their count in the stable ranged from 3.98×10 3 CFU m -3 to 5.11×10 4 CFU m -3 and in the coop from 6.89 ×10 4 CFU m -3 to 1.13×10 5 CFU m -3 . The difference between the two animal dwellings was statistically different at the level of p<0.05. In both dwellings, the most common were the fungi Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., and yeasts, followed by Cladosporium sp., Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Scopulariopsis sp., Alternaria sp., and Rhizopus sp.Our results are entirely in line with values reported in literature and are at the lower end of the range. They call for further investigation that would eventually lead to setting air quality standards for animal dwellings and to developing reliable monitoring systems in order to ensure safe food and safe environment.
U Zraku Nastambi za držanje životinja stvaraju se znatne koli _ine bioaerosola. Njega _ine prašina, bakterije, gljivice, endotoksini i plinovi. Brojnost im ovisi o građevinsko-tehni _kim zna _ajkama nastambi, naseljenosti životinjama, na _inu držanja, temperaturno-vlažnim odnosima u staji i aktivnostima oko hranjenja, mužnje, skupljanja jaja i drugih poslova. Ove _estice, ako su patogene, mogu biti ozbiljna prijetnja za zdravlje ljudi.Mjerenja su obavljana u staji muznih krava te u objektu za nesilice, 2007. godine, tijekom tri jesenja mjeseca.Zrak je uzorkovan na Petrijeve zdjelice sa Sabouraudovim glukoznim agarom, uređajem MAS 100. Nakon obrade u laboratoriju, prema osnovnim i mikromorfološkim osobinama poraslih kolonija identificirani su naj _ešće zastupljeni rodovi gljivica.Srednja vrijednost broja gljivica u zraku staje za muzne krave kretala se od 3,98×10 3 CFU m -3 do 5,11×10 4 CFU m -3 . Broj gljivica u zraku objekta za nesilice kretao se od 6,89×10 4 CFU m -3 do 1,13×10 5 CFU m -3 . Ove vrijednosti statisti _ki su se zna _ajno razlikovale na razini p<0,05.U obje pretraživane nastambe naj _ešće su bili zastupljeni rodovi Aspergillus, Penicillium i kvasnice. U manjem postotku utvrđene su gljivice iz rodova Cladosporium sp., Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Scopulariopsis sp., Alternaria sp. i Rhizopus sp.Rezultati ovih istraživanja o kvantitativnom i kvalitativnom sastavu gljivica u zraku pretraženih nastambi potpuno su u skladu s vrijednostima zabilježenim u literaturi te se nalaze na donjim granicama opisanih raspona. Utvrđeni broj i rodovi gljivica ukazuju na nužnost daljnjih istraživanja te potrebu postavljanja standardnih vrijednosti glede kvalitete zraka u nastambama za životinje, kao i razvoj vjerodostojnog sustava praćenja navedenih _imbenika, s ciljem stvaranja sigurne hrane i sigurnog okoliša.
Haematological and biochemical analyses of blood were performed in carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) kept in small ponds. Caught and anaesthetised carp were clinically examined and blood samples were taken ...at regular intervals during the three years. In the first year of examinations, the haemoglobin and haematocrit values of carp fry significantly increased (P<0.01) from June to September. The intensive growth of carp in the summer period in the second year was accompanied by adequate erythropoiesis. During hibernation haematocrit and haemoglobin significantly decreased (P<0.05) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) increased (P<0.01) in both scaly and mirror carp. MCHC increased also with the age and increasing body weight of the fish. Mirror carp had lower haematocrit and haemoglobin values than scaly carp (P<0.01). Comparative haematological analyses between carp of normal and poor body condition showed that moderate anaemia appeared in those with poor body condition. The results indicate that there is marked seasonal and age-dependent variation in the values of haematocrit and haemoglobin. Pond water quality investigations indicated good environmental conditions. A 50% increase (P<0.05) of glucose concentration was found from June to September in the blood plasma of carp in the third year, accompanied by an even more increased (80%; P<0.01) concentration of total lipids. At the same time, considerable changes of cholesterol and total protein concentrations were not observed. The results suggest that the investigated haematological and biochemical variables could be successfully utilised in monitoring the metabolic balance and health status of fish in intensive culture.
The main microclimate parameters, i.e. bacterial count and airborne emission to the immediate environment, were analyzed in a dairy barn. Air temperature, relative humidity and air flow velocity were ...measured on an attested Testo 400 device (Testo Inc., Germany). Air samples were collected by use of a Merck MAS-100 device (Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany) onto a commercially available nutrient Columbia agar (Biolife, Milan, Italy) and incubated for 24 h in an incubator at 37 degrees C work temperature. Measurements were carried out once a week in the morning, at noon, and in the evening during October and November 2002. In the barn, measurements were performed in the animal housing area along the feedlot, and outside the barn at a distance of 5 m, 25 m and 50 m eastward and westward from the barn. The measured dairy barn temperature ranged from 11.2 degrees C to 13.1 degrees C, relative humidity from 71.3-78.6 %, and air flow velocity from 0.09-0.11 m/s. The mean value of total bacterial count in the barn air ranged from 2.82 x 10 (4) cfu/m(3) at noon to 7.76 x 10(4) cfu/m(3) in the evening. Bacterial count decreased at particular measuring sites outside the barn, with Wilcoxon matched pair test showing statistical significance (p < 0.05) at a distance of 5 m eastward and 5 m westward of the barn.
Hydrogen peroxide is used more and more as the water and wastewater as well as slurry disinfectant. Its advantages over other oxidants are nontoxic, harmless, and environmentally acceptable by ...products. The basic task in the disinfection of slurry is to destroy or remove infectious microorganisms so that the slurry cannot transmit disease producing agents, when disposed on the land or into waters.
In the present study the effect of hydrogen peroxide disinfectant with catalytic action of metal ions, silver and ferrous, was investigated in the hygienization process of pig and cattle slurry.
In order to determine the optimal concentration of disinfectant, the effect of a range of final concentrations of hydrogen peroxide alone and with metal ions was investigated. Organoleptic, physicochemical and bacteriologic parameters were analyzed for wastewater quality assessment in accordance with standard methods.
The results illustrated an improvement of organoleptic properties: color and odor, the oxidation of organic matter across reduction of BOD
5 and ammonium content of the treated slurries as well as a decrease of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and total coliform bacteria numbers.
This investigation indicated that the disinfection of slurry with the oxidative compounds with hydrogen peroxide basis and catalytic action of silver and ferrous ions can be recommended for its bactericidal and oxidative effect.
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