Airborne Microorganisms From Livestock Production Systems and Their Relation to Dust

Abstract

Large amounts of airborne microorganisms are emitted from livestock production. These emitted microorganisms may associate with dust, and are suspected to pose a risk of airborne infection to humans in vicinity and to animals on other farms. However, the extent to which airborne transmission may play a role in the epidemic, and how dust acts as a carrier of microorganisms in the transmission processes is unknown. The authors present the current knowledge of the entire process of airborne transmission of microorganisms-from suspension and transportation until deposition and infection-and their relation to dust. The sampling and the mitigation techniques of airborne microorganisms and dust in livestock production systems are introduced as well.Airborne Microorganisms and Dust in Livestock Houses 1073 airborne microorganisms and dust from livestock production systems, as well as the factors affecting their concentrations. In section 3, the physical and biological decay of airborne microorganisms and dust during transmission is described. In section 4, the deposition of airborne microorganisms and dust in respiratory tracts, and the infective dose of pathogenic microorganisms to animals are introduced. In section 5, the strategies and techniques for sampling microorganisms and dust in livestock production systems are proposed. In section 6, the mitigation techniques are described.

Particulate matter emission from livestock houses: measurement methods, emission levels and abatement systems

“…1; step 3 in the lower picture). Furthermore, part of the micro-organisms present in PM becomes inactivated through factors as UV-radiation, temperature, and humidity (Zhao et al, 2014). Eventually, neighboring residents of livestock farms may be exposed to elevated levels of livestock-related PM (Table 3).…”

“…In contrast to secondary PM, primary PM is emitted as particles from livestock houses which mainly fall in the size range larger than 2.5 µm (Lai et al, 2014). It originates from mechanical processes and organic sources inside the house, such as manure, feathers, and skin debris , and contains micro-organisms and pro-inflammatory endotoxins Zhao et al, 2014). Concentrations of these particles decrease with increasing distance from the emission point of livestock houses because they settle out to the ground and impact to vegetation, but also because they disperse and their concentration becomes diluted with cleaner air.…”

Comparative Evaluation of Light-emitting Diode (LED) vs. Fluorescent (FL) Lighting in Commercial Aviary Hen Houses

“…In the aviary house system, dust production was mainly affected by hen activities on the litter floor (Nielsen et al, 2003, Cambra-López et al, 2010, Zhao et al, 2014. Light management can affect animal activity (Calvet et al, 2009).…”

Concentrations of Ammonia, Greenhouse Gases and Particulate Matters in Conventional Cage, Aviary, and Enriched Colony Laying-Hen Houses

“…It is well known that PM levels are closely related to animal activities in livestock and poultry houses (Takai et al, 1998;Zhao et al, 2014b). When floor bedding or litter is provided in housing systems (such as AV housing) to accommodate animal natural behaviors (e.g.…”