Beata Trawińska

Evaluating bioaerosol exposure among bus drivers in the public transport sector

ABSTRACT Occupational hazards and consequent health problems suffered by drivers in the public transport sector require preventive measures. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure of drivers to microbiological air contamination (airborne bacteria and fungi) in buses. The air in public transport vehicles was examined in autumn, winter and spring. To evaluate the exposure of drivers to bioaerosols, air samples were collected and examined for the total number of bacteria and fungi in the air, the number of mesophilic aerobic bacteria specified by the number of colony forming units (CFU) per 1 m3 of air. The results of the research show that public transport as a workplace can be considered to be a significant risk to health.

EFFECT OF HERBAL EXTRACTS ON SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF CALVES DURING REARING

Abstract Clinically healthy Polish Holstein-Friesian calves were divided into two groups: a control group (12 individuals) and an experimental group (12 individuals). The experimental group calves received a mixture of 20% water herbal extracts prepared from Urtica dioica, Hb., Hypericum perforatum, Hb., Melissa officinalis, Fol., Chamomillae recutita Anth., Calendula officinalis, Flos, and Plantago lanceolata, Fol. The mixture was given from the 2nd to 14th week of their life. Control calves received no addition of herbal extracts to their diet. Red blood cell count, white blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit value, and mean corpuscular volume were determined in the 4th, 9th, and 14th week of the experiment. The beneficial effect of the herbal mixture on the level of the examined haematological parameters was demonstrated in all tested weeks. In the calves from experimental group, a significantly higher red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, and corpuscular volume, and lower white blood cell count were found. There were no statistically significant differences in the haematocrit values between both groups.

Evaluation of microbial contamination of feces and soil on a laying-hen farm depending on sampling site and season

The objective of the present study was to evaluate soil collected from a laying-hen farm and bird manure according to the season of the year and sampling site. Soil samples were taken at the poultry facility wall and at the distances of 15 m and 45 m from the building. Bird feces samples were collected inside the poultry house at the entrance and at 1/4 and 1/2 length of the building. Soil and bird feces samples were evaluated by bacteriological qualitative and quantitative analyses. The largest bacterial load was determined in the samples taken at the poultry facility wall in December/January. Soil microbial contamination degree was low. The highest bacterial count in bird manure was found in the samples collected at 1/2 length of the hen house at the end of December/January. The qualitative study of bird feces showed the presence of E. coli bacteria all through the research period and Enterobacter spp. in the samples taken from July until September. Microbial contamination of soil environment and bird feces is most likely to be affected by winter period as at that time the highest microbial population can be determined. This fact may be linked to the prevailing climatic and microclimatic conditions.

Effect of pig farm on microbial contamination of soil.

Abstract The objective of the study was to assess microbial contamination of soil collected in a swine farm and manure from animals housed there depending on the season of the year and the sampling site. The study was conducted from October to September. The soil samples were taken immediately at the pig house wall (GI), and at the distance of 15 m (GII) and 45 m (GIII) from the house wall. Besides, manure samples were collected inside the pig housing facility: at the entrance to the pig house (KI) and at 1/4 (KII) and 1/2 length of the animal facility (KIII). The soil and manure samples underwent qualitative and quantitative bacteriological evaluation. The study was conducted according to the procedure laid out in the Polish Standards. There was also assessed air temperature and relative moisture, air motion and cooling as well as sample moisture in the sampling site. The greatest number of all studied bacteria was determined in soil collected 15 m from the piggery (GII) in December/January. The highest coli titre (0.0001) was also established in the samples (GII) at that time. The qualitative analysis of soil showed solely the presence of E. coli bacteria which were recovered in the GII soils taken from November to May. The largest bacterial load in swine manure was determined in the samples collected at 1/2 length of the pig house (KII) at the end of December and January. The growth of all the analysed microbes was favoured by sample moisture, while air relative moisture prompted development of psychrophilic and proteolytic bacteria. E. coli were isolated in manure samples throughout the entire research period, whereas Enterobacter spp. were detected in the KI and KII samples from June to August and in KII samples from June to September. The winter period was shown to affect significantly microbial contamination of swine farm environment as at that time the highest bacterial load was determined in soil and manure. This is most likely to be associated with the climatic and microclimatic conditions observed in those days.

EFFECT OF FEED SUPPLEMENTED WITH VITAMIN C ON MICROBIAL FLORA OF SWINE FAECES AND BLOOD MORPHOLOGY

Abstract The studies involved gilts 6 weeks pre-partum allocated into the control and experimental groups. The experimental group received vitamin C at the dose of 2.5g/100 kg b.w./day. Faeces for analyses were collected for 3- and 6- week period of vitamin C dietary inclusion. The faecal material underwent quantitative and qualitative bacteriological evaluation. The count of Enterobacteriaceae was evaluated. The qualitative examination of these bacteria was made using the micro-plate method API 20E. Feed supplemented with vitamin C contributed to a statistically significant decline of the total bacterial count of Enterobacteriaceae in faeces. The qualitative bacterial analyses showed the presence of E. coli, Providecia sp., Proteus sp., and Salmonella sp. in the control and experimental groups. Enterobacter sp. was recovered only in the control group, while Lactobacillus sp. in the experimental group. The dietary administration of vitamin C significantly decreased the number of the studied bacterial species, except Salmonella rods. No statistically significant differences in the number of most blood morphotic elements following the 6- week supply of vitamin C were found; only the granulocyte count significantly increased, while lymphocyte numbers declined. Ascorbic acid inhibited the growth of pathogenic intestinal flora and reduced the pathogenic and relatively pathogenic bacteria count in the gastrointestinal tract and notably contributed to enhanced growth of beneficial bacteria.

Variability of semen in boars treated with vitamin C in food ration

The main criterion for keeping a boar at an insemination station is the production of boar ejaculates containing a high quantity of spermatozoa with a high fertilization potential. The production of boar semen is affected by the biological value of the boar (22, 44) and by environmental factors (4, 46). As far as the biological value is concerned, the breed of the boar is considered to be of paramount importance (17, 36, 39, 45) as it has critical influence on most semen traits. The age of the animal also plays a role (20, 32, 38, 44). Among the environmental factors, the most important are the rearing conditions coupled with an appropriate nutrition strategy. Currently, boars of sire breeds (lines) selected for commercial use as AI sires are subjected to reproductive, fattening and slaughter evaluation. Recently, there have been reports of problems related to the deterioration of boar reproductive traits, such as reduced sexual activity and poor semen quality (2, 18, 19, 35). There could be many reasons for that, e.g. excessive physiological burden associated with the fast growth rate resulting from intensive selection based on fattening and slaughter traits. The process of spermatogenesis can be affected deleteriously by other environmental factors, such as pesticides, exogenous female hormones and heavy metals, while positive effects may come from feed supplementation with, among others, carnitine, arginine, selenium and vitamin E. Administration of vitamins B12, B6 and PP contributes to increased sperm cell counts and improves their motility (23). Importantly, the effectiveness of Variability of semen in boars treated with vitamin C in food ration

Occupational exposure level of pig facility workers to chemical and biological pollutants

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to assess the impact of a fattening season on the level of airborne chemical and microbial pollutants in the pig fattening house. MATERIAL AND METHODS Evaluation of the air composition as well as the microbiological air quality were made during 2 series, i.e. in the summer and winter period of fattening. Airborne gaseous pollutants were analyzed by gas (organic compounds) and liquid (inorganic compounds) chromatography methods. Air microbial contamination was determined in compliance with the Polish Standard PN-EN 13098:2007. RESULTS The air/gas composition in the pig unit showed that irrespective of the fattening season, the level of determined pollutants - especially ammonia, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including methanethiol and total dust - could have an adverse effect on the health of swine facility workers. The investigated pig building was found to be a source of chemical pollutants as well as biological agents. The total bacterial count in 1 m3 of air was 3.6×106 and 4.6×106 cfu, during the winter and summer periods of fattening, respectively. Gram-positive cocci predominated in both seasons. In the winter, fungi of the Trichoderma genus were represented equally often. In the summer period, up to 90% of the isolated fungus was Aspergillus spp. CONCLUSIONS Workers engaged in swine rearing and production are occupationally exposed not only to a high concentration of microbial contamination, but also to irritating and odorogenous volatile compounds. Thus, activities directed at the promotion of health prevention strategies, as well as effective guidelines for safe and hygienic animal housing, should be implemented.