Concentration of airborne endotoxins and airborne bacteria in Chinese rabbit houses

Concentration of airborne endotoxins, airborne aerobic bacteria and airborne aerobic gram-negative bacteria were measured in 3 rabbit houses. Further, the species composition of the airborne gram-negative bacterial flora was investigated. The total amount of airborne endotoxin ranged from 22 to 774 EU/m(3) (Endotoxin Units/m(3)). The number of total airborne aerobic bacteria varied between 780 and 20100 CFU/m(3), the number of airborne aerobic gram-negative bacteria between 39 and 1030 CFU/m(3). Most gram-negative bacterial isolates belonged to the family Enterobacterioceae with E coli as primary species. In two rabbit houses also airborne Posteurella multocido spp. multocido, the most common respiratory pathogen of rabbits, was isolated.