Microbiological Characterization and Mitigation of Bioaerosols in CAFOs

描述(由申请人提供)：人类呼吸道疾病是在集中动物饲养作业(CAFO)中工作的个人的一种迅速增长的发病率原因。近距离接触高密度牲畜会使CAFO工作人员接触到大量空气中的微生物、抗原和毒素，这些结合在一起会导致急性和慢性呼吸系统疾病。CAFO工作人员，特别是那些与猪和家禽打交道的工作人员，处于新出现的人畜共患疾病的风险前沿，这些疾病是高度公共卫生关切的，包括禽流感、猪流感和耐多药病原体。除了最严重的感染，CAFO工作人员肺部疾病的病原学特征还不是很好，因为大多数现有的微生物学知识依赖于培养，而培养提供的信息很少。相比之下，基于分子的分析，如大范围聚合酶链式反应(PCR)，可以提供对微生物种群的全面调查。此外，与传统的基于培养的技术相比，分子检测可以更快、更便宜地进行。拟议的四年计划的目标是使用先进的分子技术来充分表征与选定的CAFO相关的生物气溶胶的微生物学，并利用这些技术来测试两种生物气溶胶消毒工程过程的有效性：紫外线照射和放电。将在猪、家禽和牛的CAFO各进行两次纵向空气采样，以推广结果。这项研究的结果对于控制CAFO工作人员接触有害微生物、推进诊断、指导抗菌治疗和衡量治疗结果具有潜在的关键作用。该项目的具体目标是：1.利用传统和独立于培养的技术，鉴定和量化与CAFO生物气溶胶有关的微生物。2.建立和验证适用于生物气溶胶相关微生物检测和定量的基于聚合酶链式反应的方法。3.在受控的实验室环境中评价紫外线照射和放电消毒生物气溶胶的方法。4.确定紫外线照射和放电生物气溶胶消毒方法缓解后对CAFO中总微生物负荷和活性微生物负荷的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Human respiratory illnesses are a burgeoning cause of morbidity for individuals who work in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO). Contact with high densities of livestock in close quarters exposes CAFO workers to large quantities of airborne microbes, antigens, and toxins, which combine to induce acute and chronic respiratory disorders. CAFO workers, particularly those working with swine and poultry, are at the forefront of risk for emerging zoonotic diseases of intense public health concern, including avian influenza, swine influenza, and multi-drug resistant pathogens. Except for the most acute infections, the etiological agents of lung disorders in CAFO workers are not well characterized, because most available microbiological knowledge has depended on culture, which is poorly informative. In contrast, molecular-based assays, such as broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can provide comprehensive surveys of microbial populations. Moreover, molecular assays can be performed much more rapidly and less expensively than can conventional culture-based techniques. The goals of the proposed four-year program are to use advanced molecular techniques to fully characterize the microbiology of bio-aerosols associated with selected CAFOs and to employ these techniques to test the efficacies of two engineering processes for bio-aerosol disinfection: U.V. irradiation and electrical discharge. Longitudinal air sampling will be performed at two each of swine, poultry, and cattle CAFOs in order to generalize results. The findings of this study are potentially critical for controlling CAFO workers' exposures to harmful microorganisms, advancing diagnostics, directing antimicrobial therapies, and measuring treatment outcomes. The specific objectives of this project are to: 1. Identify and quantify microorganisms associated with CAFO bio-aerosols using traditional and culture- independent technology. 2. Develop and validate PCR-based assays applicable to detection and quantification of bio-aerosol- associated microbes. 3. Evaluate U.V. irradiation and electrical discharge methods of bio-aerosol disinfection in controlled, laboratory environment. 4. Determine the impact on total and viable microbial loads in CAFOs following mitigation with U.V. irradiation and electrical discharge methods of bio-aerosol disinfection.