Air microorganisms in animal housing--4. Airborne gram-negative bacteria and airborne endotoxin in pig houses
Zucker, B.A.; Müller, W.
Berliner und Munchener Tierarztliche Wochenschrift 115(1-2): 30-36
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0005-9366 PMID: 11852681 Document Number: 543980
The species composition of airborne gram-negative bacteria and the relationship between inhalable endotoxin, inhalable dust and airborne bacteria were studied in 4 pig houses. The airborne gram-negative bacterial flora was dominated by Enterobacteriaceae. Within the Enterobacteriaceae the species E. coli and Enterobacter agglomerans were predominant. Significant correlation were found between the concentration of inhalable dust and inhalable endotoxin as well as between the concentration of airborne gram-negative bacteria and inhalable endotoxin. However these correlation were not very strong. With respect to the characterization of the potential hazard of organic dust exposure, measurements of the concentration of airborne dust or airborne bacteria should not be used for the estimation of the concentration of airborne endotoxin.