Microbiological Characterization and Mitigation of Bioaerosols in CAFOs

Details

• Personal Author:
  Pace NR
• Description:
  Rationale: Respiratory tract infections are common among workers in confined animal feed operations (CAFOs) and little is know about the kinds of aerosol microbes workers are exposed-to that might predicate diseases. The goal of the project was to use molecular technology to characterize microorganisms in swine and dairy CAFOs, and to develop and test potential mitigation methods. Progress: Overall considerable progress was made. The basic goal of documenting the nature of CAFO aerosol microbiology was achieved. Methods were developed for the harvest of large air volumes (typically approx. 2 m3 per sample) using fluid impingment (Sceptor Industries Omni, heavily customized). DNA was isolated and ribosomal RNA genes were obtained by PCR and cloning, and sequenced to identify microbes. CAFO aerosols are dominated by animal fecal microbiology. We additionally showed that our methods are suitable for the harvest and analysis of viruses, using Porcine Circovirus 2 as a model. PCV2 was detected in all swine facilities but not dairy facilities. Our methods are suitable for virus surveillance in animal facilities, a critical regulatory issue in monitoring spread of zoonotic disease. In parallel, we studied the use of weakly ionizing electric field for aerosol disinfection. Viable cells, but not spores, are subject to inactivation, suggesting that weak electric fields applied to air filtration equipment may be an effective engineering technology for rapid inactivation of vegetative cells on low-pressure drop filter media. Additionally, we determined that PCR of rRNA genes is not useful as a marker for inactivation of microbes by UV light; UV lesions are too rare to restrict PCR. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Microbiology Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Animal Husbandry Workers Bioaerosols Infection Control Infectious Agents Livestock Foods Microorganisms Respiratory Diseases Respiratory Infections Zoonoses
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058148
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R01-OH-009064, 2011 Dec; :1-10
• Contact Point Address:
  Norman R. Pace, Ph.D., University of Colorado, MCD Biology, UCB 347, Boulder, CO 80309
• Email:
  nrpace@colorado.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing ; Manufacturing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Colorado
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20060915
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20110914
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:299d888779b7fd610d657c69b0abc60bfda6a1196aaf859e1e049d597c96431102e5a23253a29ecb23ed5205c8c4264d7f8ebdd88cdf8c98256d0da9b925fd52
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/218938/cdc_218938_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 140.31 KB ]