Collaborative project: Development of air filtration systems that reduce air-borne pathogens in pig husbandry facilities - subproject 2 (Filtration) | FISA - Forschungsinformationssystem Agrar und Ernährung

Collaborative project: Development of air filtration systems that reduce air-borne pathogens in pig husbandry facilities - subproject 2 (Filtration)

Project

Production processes

This project contributes to the research aim 'Production processes'. Which funding institutions are active for this aim? What are the sub-aims? Take a look:
Production processes

Project code: 28RZ372037
Contract period: 08.08.2014 - 30.04.2018
Budget: 189,750 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development

The aim of the study is the development of three different air filtration systems that will be implemented and tested in a case/control study in pig husbandry. Three different filtration systems will be designed: Air Inlet - Filterceiling, Air Inlet - Filtermodul, Recirculation - Filtermodul. We will investigate whether these filtration systems will lead to a reduction of introducing air-borne pathogens in incoming air as well as in circulating air, and whether this may have an impact on animal health and economically significant parameters in pig production. We already established a filter-test facility in our laboratory which has been validated using PRRS virus in a preceding study. Raw gas containing a defined amount of aerosolized pathogen per volume of air will be directed through the different filtration systems. The difference in pathogen content measured in raw gas versus scrubbed gas (i.e. behind the filter) allows calculating the deposition rate. PRRS virus, Pasteurellaceae, and Mycoplasma or other pathogens relevant in pig husbandry will be used as test organisms in the laboratory. ECBO virus will be used as substitute for FMD virus. The filtration systems for circulating air will be tested using microorganisms ubiquitously found in pig stables (e.g. moulds, yeasts, grampositive bacteria). Pathogen content will be analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR or microbiological culture techniques. The case/control study will be realized in cooperation with a pig production plant subsequent to these in vitro tests. The production plant consists of four identical husbandry facilities which allowing the simultaneous comparison of the newly developed filtration systems. Over a course of 12 months all relevant climatic parameters (temperature, humidity, air exchange, content of dust and microorganisms) will be measured and compared. Impingement and filtration methods will be used to quantify microorganisms in- and outside the husbandry facilities. Dust will be measured using a dust photometer and a particle counter. In addition, daily weight gain, duration of the fattening period and other performance parameters will be used to evaluate the impact of the filtration systems on animal health.

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