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van Leenen K, Jouret J, Demeyer P, Vermeir P, Leenknecht D, Van Driessche L, De Cremer L, Masmeijer C, Boyen F, Deprez P, Cox E, Devriendt B, Pardon B. Particulate matter and airborne endotoxin concentration in calf barns and their association with lung consolidation, inflammation, and infection. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:5932-5947. [PMID: 33612235 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Agricultural operations are important sources of organic dust containing particulate matter (PM) and endotoxins, which have possible negative health consequences for both humans and animals. Dust concentrations and composition in calf barns, as well as the potential health effects for these animals, are scarcely documented. The objective of this study was to measure PM fractions and endotoxin concentrations in calf barns and study their associations with lung consolidation, respiratory tract inflammation, and infection in group-housed calves. In this cross-sectional study, samples from 24 dairy farms and 23 beef farms were collected in Belgium from January to April 2017. PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10 (defined as particulate matter passing through a size-selective inlet with a 50% efficiency cut-off at a 1.0-μm, 2.5-μm, and 10-μm aerodynamic diameter, respectively) were sampled during a 24-h period using a Grimm aerosol spectrometer (Grimm Aerosol Technik Ainring GmbH & Co. KG). Endotoxin concentration was measured in the PM10 fraction. Thoracic ultrasonography was performed and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid was collected for cytology and bacteriology. Average PM concentrations were 16.3 µg/m3 (standard deviation, SD: 17.1; range: 0.20-771), 25.0 µg/m3 (SD: 25.3; range: 0.50-144.9), and 70.3 µg/m3 (SD: 54.5; range: 1.6-251.2) for PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively. Mean endotoxin in the PM10 fraction was 4.2 endotoxin units (EU)/µg (SD: 5.50; range: 0.03-30.3). Concentrations in air were 205.7 EU/m3 (SD: 197.5; range: 2.32-901.0). Lung consolidations with a depth of ≥1, ≥3, and ≥6 cm were present in 43.1% (146/339), 27.4% (93/339), and 15.3% (52/339) of the calves, respectively. Exposure to fine (PM1.0) PM fractions was associated with increased odds of lung consolidations of ≥1 cm (odds ratio, OR: 3.3; confidence interval (CI): 1.5-7.1), ≥3 cm (OR: 2.8; CI: 1.2-7.1), and ≥6 cm (OR: 12.3; CI: 1.2-125.0). The odds of having lung consolidations of ≥1 cm (OR: 13.9; CI: 3.4-58.8) and ≥3 cm (OR: 6.7; 1.7-27.0) were higher when endotoxin concentrations in the dust mass exceeded 8.5 EU/µg. Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid neutrophil percentage was positively associated with PM10 concentration, and epithelial cell percentage was negatively associated with this fraction. Concentration of PM2.5 was positively associated with epithelial cell percentage and isolation of Pasteurella multocida. Although concentrations of fine dust are lower in calf barns than in poultry and pig housings, in this study they were associated with pneumonia in calves. Dust control strategies for reducing fine dust fractions in calf barns may benefit human and animal respiratory health.
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Affiliation(s)
- K van Leenen
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - J Jouret
- Belgian Center for Occupational Hygiene, Tramstraat 59, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - P Demeyer
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Burgemeester van Gansberghelaan 115 Bus1, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - P Vermeir
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - D Leenknecht
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - L Van Driessche
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - L De Cremer
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - C Masmeijer
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - F Boyen
- Laboratory for Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - P Deprez
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - E Cox
- Laboratory for Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - B Devriendt
- Laboratory for Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - B Pardon
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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