EFFECT OF PHONE BOOK PAPER VERSUS SAWDUST AND STRAW BEDDING ON THE PRESENCE OF AIRBORNE GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA, FUNGI AND ENDOTOXIN IN HORSE STALLS

A major concern in stabled horses is the occurrence of chronic obstruc tive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease h as been associated with poorly ventilated stables, exposure to dust an d mold and as a sequel to bacterial and viral respiratory tract infect ions. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of airbo rne Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), fungi and endotoxin which may be fac tors in the incidence of COPD in stabled horses. Three bedding materia ls were used: phone book paper, pine sawdust and wheat straw, Six stal ls and six horses were utilized for the study. Two stalls each were be dded with either phone book paper, sawdust or straw. Air samples for G NB and fungi (N=96) were collected inside each stall for eight consecu tive days using the time intervals of 15s, 30s, 2 min and 3 min using an Andersen Cascade Impactor. Air samples for endotoxin (N=42) were co llected for each bedding type over a seven-day period. Analysis for ai rborne GNB, fungi and endotoxin were performed on air samples collecte d from the stalls. No differences were detected in total plate count f or either GNB (P>.10) or fungi (P>.10) between the phone book paper, s awdust or straw bedding materials. Cram-negative bacteria and fungi we re prevalent in the air of all stalls. The straw stalls had higher lev els of airborne endotoxin contamination levels (P<.001) as compared to the phone book paper and sawdust stalls. The stall air for phone book paper appeared similar to that of the sawdust and straw stalls in GNB and fungi contamination levels while the straw stalls had higher endo toxin contamination levels when compared to the other beddings, Phone book paper may be an acceptable bedding material when considering micr obial contamination, Further research of the direct impact of these co ntamination levels on the respiratory health of horses is needed.