RESEARCH PAPER
Effects of disinfectant fogging procedure on dust, ammonia concentration, aerobic bacteria and fungal spores in a farrowing-weaning room
 
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Italy
 
2
Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milan, Italy
 
3
Department of Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Italy
 
 
Corresponding author
Annamaria Costa   

Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Italy
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014;21(3):494-499
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and Objective:
In the last decades, large-scale swine production has led to intensive rearing systems in which air quality can be easily degraded by aerial contaminants that can pose a health risk to the pigs and farm workers. This study evaluated the effects of fogging disinfectant procedure on productive performance, ammonia and dust concentration, aerobic bacteria and fungal spores spreading in the farrowing–weaning room.

Material and Methods:
This trial was conducted in 2 identical farrowing-weaning rooms of a piggery. In both rooms, 30 pregnant sows were lodged in individual cages. At 75 days of age, the piglets were moved to the fattening room. In the treated room, with the birth of the first suckling-pig, the fogging disinfection with diluted Virkon S was applied once a day in the experimental room per 15 minutes at 11:00. The fogging disinfectant treatment was switched between rooms at the end of the first trial period. Temperature, relative humidity, dust (TSP-RF fractions and number of particles), ammonia concentration and aerial contaminants (enterococci, Micrococcaeae and fungal spores) were monitored in both rooms.

Results:
Ammonia concentration reduction induced by fogging disinfection was estimated 18%, total suspended particles and the respirable fraction were significantly lower in the experimental room. Fungal spores resulted in a significant reduction by the fogging procedure, together with dust respirable fraction and fine particulate matter abatement.

Conclusions:
The fogging disinfection procedure improved air quality in the piggery, thereby enhancing workers and animals health.

 
REFERENCES (25)
1.
Van der Waaij EH. A resource allocation model describing consequences of artificial selection under metabolic stress. J Anim Sci. 2004; 82: 973–981.
 
2.
Omland O. Exposure and respiratory health in farming in temperate zones – a review of the literature Ann Agr Env Med. 2002; 9: 119–136.
 
3.
Seedorf J. An emission inventory of livestock-related bioaerosols for Lower Saxony, Germany. Atmos Environ. 2004; 38: 6565–6581.
 
4.
Hartung J. Effects of bioaerosol related particulate matter on animal health. In Proc- PM in and from Agriculture. Braunschweig 2002.p.119–123.
 
5.
Tabibi R, Corsini E, Brambilla G, Bonizzi L, Melzi d‘Eril G, Rabozzi G, Sokooti M, Romanò L, Somaruga C, Vellere F, Zanetti A, Colosio C. Immune changes in animal breeders: a pilot study conducted in northern Italy. Ann Agr Env Med. 2012;19(2): 221–225.
 
6.
Costa A, Chiarello GL, Selli E, Guarino M. Effects of TiO2 based photocatalytic paint on concentrations and emissions of pollutants and on animal performance in a swine weaning unit. J Environ Manage. 2012; 96(1): 86–90.
 
7.
Donham K J. Association of environmental air contaminants with disease and productivity in swine. Am J Vet Res. 1991; 52: 1723–1730.
 
8.
Vogelzang PF, van der Gulden JW, Folgering H, Heederik D, Tielen MJ, van Schayck CP. Longitudinal changes in bronchial responsiveness associated with swine confinement dust exposure. Chest. 2000; 117(5): 1488–1495.
 
9.
Muller B. U berlebensverhalten und Abundanz von Mikroorganismen auf Luftfiltern Raumlufttechnischer Anlagen. Doktor Arbiet Thesis, Centrale Biblotech, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin 1999.
 
10.
Farnsworth JE, Goyal SM, Kim W, Kuehn TH, Raynor PC. Ramakrishnan M A, Anantharaman S., Tang W. Development of a method for bacteria and virus recovery from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) filters. J Environ Monitor. 2006; 8: 1006–1013.
 
11.
Burfoot D, Hall K, Brown K, Xu Y. Fogging for the disinfection of food processing factories and equipment. TRENDS FOOD SCI TECH. 1999; 10: 205–210.
 
12.
Threshold limit values and biological exposure indices for 1986–1987. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; 1987; Cincinnati, Ohio.
 
13.
Guarino M, Caroli A, Navarotto P. Dust concentration and mortality distribution in an enclosed laying house. T ASAE. 1999; 42(4): 1127–1133.
 
14.
SAS. 2011. SAS User’s Guide: Statistics. Ver. 9.2. Cary, N.C.: SAS Institute, Inc.
 
15.
Ni JQ, Vinckier C, Coenegrachts J, Hendriks J. Effect of manure on ammonia emission from a fattening pig house with partly slatted floor. Livest Prod Sci. 1999; 59: 25–31.
 
16.
CIGR, Commission Internationale de Genie Rural (International Commission of Agricultural Engineering), 1984. Report on Working Group on Climatization of Animal Houses. Craibstone, Aberdeen: Scottish Farm Building Investigation Unit, 1–72.
 
17.
Hernandez A, Martro E, Matas L, Martin M, Ausina V. Assessment of in vitro efficacy of 1% Virkon against bacteria, fungi, viruses and spores by means of AFNOR guidelines. J Hosp Infect. 2000; 46: 203–209.
 
18.
Ellen HH, Bottcher RW, von Wachenfelt E, Takai H. Dust levels and control methods in poultry houses. J Agric Safety and Health. 2000; 6: 275–282.
 
19.
Black PN; Udy AA; Brodie SM. Sensitivity to fungal allergens is a risk factor for life-threatening asthma. Allergy 2000; 55(5), 501–504.
 
20.
Robertson JH, Frieben WR. Microbial validation of ven filters. Biotechnol Bioeng. 1984; 26: 828–835.
 
21.
Kim KY, Ko HJ, Kim HT, Kim YS, Roh YM, Kim CN. Effect of ventilation rate on gradient of aerial contaminants in the confinement pig building. Environ Res. 2007; 103: 352–357.
 
22.
Haeussermann A, Costa A, Aerts J M, Hartung E, Jungbluth T, Guarino M, Berckmans D. Development of a dynamic model to predict PM 10 emissions from swine houses. J Environ Qual. 2008; 37(2): 557–564.
 
23.
Maghirang RG, Manbeck HB, Puri VM. 1994. Numerical simulation of particle transport in slot-inlet ventilated airspaces. T ASAE. 1994. 37(5): 1607–1612.
 
24.
Costa A, Borgonovo F, Leroy T, Berckmans D, Guarino M. Dust concentration variation in relation to animal activity in a pig barn. Biosyst Eng. 2009; 104: 118–124.
 
25.
NADIS (2009) Veterinary Report & Forecast – February 2009 www.thepigsite.com/swinenews/20540/nadis-veterinary-report-forecast-february-2009 (access: 2013.02.13).
 
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top