Special Issue on Companion Animals and Shelter MedicineNo Access

BIOAEROSOL INVESTIGATION IN THREE VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITALS IN TAIWAN

School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10617, Taiwan

E-mail Address: r01629006@ntu.edu.tw

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Bang-Hung Liu

School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10617, Taiwan

E-mail Address: liuxiaoman0223@gmail.com

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Chia-Hsin Hsu

School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10617, Taiwan

E-mail Address: b01409012@ntu.edu.tw

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Cheng-Chi Liu

School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10617, Taiwan

E-mail Address: cylindoma@yahoo.com.tw

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Albert TC Liao

School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10617, Taiwan

E-mail Address: atliao@ntu.edu.tw

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Chung-Hsi Chou

School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10617, Taiwan

E-mail Address: cchou@ntu.edu.tw

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, and

Chen-Si Lin

School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10617, Taiwan

E-mail Address: cslin100@ntu.edu.tw

Corresponding author. Tel: 886-2-33661286; Fax: 886-2-23686570.

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https://doi.org/10.1142/S1682648515500353Cited by:2 (Source: Crossref)

Abstract

Veterinary staff could be in frequent exposure to a variety of physical, chemical and biological hazards. Epidemiologic studies have showed that veterinarians are at increased risk of many occupational illnesses such as dermatoses, respiratory tract illnesses, zoonotic infections, acute pesticide-associated toxicity, fetal loss and site-specific cancers. Most biological hazards are distributed in the form of aerosols in the workplaces. This study intended to investigate the potential occupational hazards faced by veterinarians in small-animal practices through field sampling for microbial pathogens in their working environment. Sampling of bacterial and fungal bioaerosols was carried out using an SKC^Ⓡ standard biostage impactor at an air-flow rate of 28.3Lmin $^{- 1}$ by a vacuum pump through 400 (0.25-mm) holes for 30s. Identification of microbial organisms was carried out by DNA extraction and sequencing for 16S and 18S ribosomal DNA of bacteria and fungi. The results showed the bacteria that occurred most frequently in the sampled hospitals were Micrococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp., and the fungi were Coriolopsis spp. and Microporus spp. Although some of these microbiota were zoonotic, there were no virulent pathogens identified. Our results revealed the possible biological risks for the veterinary workers in small animal hospitals in Taiwan. Proper disinfection and sterilization procedures in workplaces with health education to the animal care workers shall protect them from the occupational injuries.

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