ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Assessing the Abundance of Airborne Fungi
in a Dairy Cattle Barn
Wojciech Pusz1, Elżbieta Pląskowska1, Ryszard Weber2, Włodzimierz Kita1
1Department of Plant Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences,
Grunwaldzki Sq. 24a, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
2Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – National Research Institute, Wrocław,
Orzechowa 61, 50-540 Wrocław, Poland
Grunwaldzki Sq. 24a, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
2Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – National Research Institute, Wrocław,
Orzechowa 61, 50-540 Wrocław, Poland
Submission date: 2014-07-03
Final revision date: 2014-07-22
Acceptance date: 2014-08-03
Publication date: 2015-02-06
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2015;24(1):241–248
KEYWORDS
airborne fungi, mycobiota, bioaerosol, mycotoxins, cattle barns, animal hygieneairborne fungimycobiotabioaerosolmycotoxinscattle barnsanimal hygiene
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The presented research aimed at determining the species composition and concentration of colony forming
units (CFU) in two types of cattle barns for dairy cows and in a calf barn. The study was carried out in
winter and summer 2012. The measurements took place in a free stall and tie stall barn and, additionally, in a
calf barn. The mycological analysis of the air was conducted using the impact method, with an Air Ideal 3P
apparatus. Spores of 45 species of fungi were found in cattle barn air, among them 36 species were collected
in winter and 30 in summer. The fungal population was characterized by considerable variation across the seasons
of the year and between bar types. The species most abundant irresepective of the season was
Cladosporium herbarum. Winter conditions favored Penicillium nigricans, whereas summer was conducive
to the development of Rhodotorula glutinis. The concentrations of fungal spores determined in the study were
not a direct hazard to barn workers or animals.
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