ABSTRACT
The microbiological analysis of the outdoor air quality in piggery farm in Ebonyi state university Nigeria was estimated by sedimentation method. Media (SDA and Nutrient agar) was exposed to the air around the pig farm for 10mins and 20mins for morning and afternoon, after which media containing the sample was closed incubated in the laboratory
for 24-36 hours at 370C. The result revealed the isolation of four (4) fungal isolates and six (6) bacterial isolates. These include Aspergillus sp, Rhizopus sp, Mucor sp, cladosporium sp, and while six (6) bacteria Isolated includes Staphylococcus sp, streptococcus sp, E.coli corynebacteria sp and pseudomonas sp. The bacterial and fungal counts varied in the air of the investigated farm. The result of the study shows high fungal and bacterial contamination of the outdoor air of this pig farm.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the Study
Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi are present almost everywhere, and this is a natural phenomenon. The quality of air in the outdoor environment is determined by the number of microorganism, gas and other substance present. However air quality is not easily defined or readily controlled and this can potentially place humans and animals occupant at risk (Jeffal et al., 2009) .However, this work is limited to only microbial contamination of out door air of piggery farm environment. The implication of microorganims in human or animal discomfort starts when their microbial load is high and they find proper condi¬tions for growth, such as high humidity and suitable temperature. Microorganisms present in the air originate from soil, plants and water and atmospheric air but it is not a convenient environment for their growth, however spore forming bacteria and fungi are able to survive in bioaerosoles and stays viable for a long time in the air and making infectious agents available all the time in the environment (Corden et al., 2004).
Many microorganisms present in the air, includ¬ing viruses, bacteria, fungi, yeasts and protozoa, are associated with diseases occurring in humans, plants and animals respectively. Up to 70 % of plant diseases are caused by fungi and there are many microorganisms able to infect animals (Mark et al., 2007). Studies has shown that microorganism present in the air can affect human and animal health, causing mainly respiratory and related diseases trans¬mitted via respiratory route. Many species of bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes, Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Legionella pneumophila or viruses may cause severe human and animals infections and diseases as well within such environment, However, particularly significant and simultaneously burdensome for humans are filamentous fungi – moulds occupying sometimes 70 % of all microorganisms present in the air (Radon and Monso, 2007). They can cause many health problems, including aller¬gic and toxic reactions. Nowadays, allergic respiratory diseases have become common. The number of allergic respiratory diseases is increasing and therefore allergies are called “The epidemics of the 21st century” (Rojas and Galan 2004). Piggery farm environment are potentially conducive for resistant and virulent pathogens to proliferate. Therefore there is need for regular assessment of air quality within this piggery farm environment to know when the levels of the microorganism in this environment are beyond normal. Study of the distribution of airborne microorganisms and the impact of time to the microorganism present in the outdoor environment is a main interest of this analysis (Hirst et al., 1978) His also the biology of interdisciplinary science - aerobiology.
They can cause many health problems, including aller¬gic and toxic reactions. Now atopic allergy affects over 25 % of the population in the industrialized world and it is estimated that in the year 2002, 50 % of total world population will be affected by different allergies (Cordon et al., 2000). The basic reason for this dramatic rise of allergic diseases is urban air pollution and this was in the industrialized nations/cities of the world (Radon et al., 1999).
The major allergic diseases- induced by fungi are asthma, rhinitis, allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses, and hypersensitivity pneumonia (Galan et al., 2004), The allergen ex¬posure may be via inhalation, skin contact, enteral or parenteral introduction. It has to be stressed that dead moulds are as toxic as live ones as they can still make people sick. The Development of an allergic disease is con¬ditioned by interrelation between individual genetic fac¬tors of a person and environmental agents (Galan et al, 2005). Particularly sensitive to allergens are the elderly, infants, people on chemotherapy, AIDS patients, etc. Many genera of fungi can cause allergic responses, but particularly important are some species of Cladosporium, Alternaria, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. Cladosporium and Alternaria are frequent and predominant genera present mainly in the outdoor air and found throughout the world, whereas Penicillum and Aspergillum species are generally iso¬lated from the pig farm environments (Hollin et al., 2001), Some moulds also produce mycotoxins, while Some mould species become particularly toxigenic by producing dangerous volatile compounds (Gemez et al., 2002).
Monitoring microbiological contamination of air has received increasing attention. A research group from the University of Edo of Nigeria compiled data for three pig farms assessment in Edo state to ensure safety for allergic workers. Information is based on a 15-year database on aeroallergens (pollen and fungi spores) present in the air of three farms ex¬pected a relatively high concentration of Alternaria and Cladosporium (Marks et al, 2002).
The concentration of microorganisms in atmospheric air and their qualitative composition is very much depen¬dent on different atmospheric factors such as Wind, rain, sunlight, ozone, all these natural forces have a dispersing and sometimes even bactericidal affect on microorgan¬isms (Marks et al., 2001). Also, chemical air pollution is associated with microbiological contamination (Radon et al 2003). On the other side, in an ideal world, microorganism composition of indoor air would reflect qualitatively to that of outdoor air with quantitative difference only. Therefore outdoor air is thought to be an important source of microorganisms in indoors and moni¬toring of outdoor air may become a significant element necessary for the estimation of air quality (Comtois et al .,1998).
1.2 Problem of Study
Analysis of out door air quality have become very necessary and imperatively increasing due to the increase in Clado¬sporium and Aspergilus sp which live as saprophytes or as parasites on many kinds of plants and in the air environment. Cladosporium and Aspergilus sp is the most com¬mon airborne fungus in the tropical zones which predominate in warm and hu¬mid climate and are strongly associated with asthma and other respiratory diseases. In Taiwan, 45 % of asthmatic children and 70 % of asthmatic adults had posi-tive allergic responses to Aspergilus sp (Comtois et al., 1999).
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