Seasonal Dynamics of Microbial Communities in PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> from a Pig Barn

Modern, intensive, high-density farming practices cause elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM) inside livestock barns. PM in livestock barns is predominantly biological, hence, it contains abundant microorganisms. Understanding the microbial composition of PM is crucial for assessing the...

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Main Authors: Qian Tang, Minyang Zhang, Lili Yu, Kaidong Deng, Huihua Mao, Jingwen Hu, Chuang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/8/1116
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author Qian Tang
Minyang Zhang
Lili Yu
Kaidong Deng
Huihua Mao
Jingwen Hu
Chuang Wang
author_facet Qian Tang
Minyang Zhang
Lili Yu
Kaidong Deng
Huihua Mao
Jingwen Hu
Chuang Wang
author_sort Qian Tang
collection DOAJ
description Modern, intensive, high-density farming practices cause elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM) inside livestock barns. PM in livestock barns is predominantly biological, hence, it contains abundant microorganisms. Understanding the microbial composition of PM is crucial for assessing the hazards of air emitted from livestock barns. PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> from a pig barn were collected in winter and spring, and morphological, chemical, and microbial analyses were performed. The PM samples exhibit diverse morphological characteristics. The top three elements detected in the PM samples were O, C, and Si. Other elements, including N, Al, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Zn, P, W, Ba, Fe, S, Cl, and Ti, were also identified in these samples. For bacterial α diversity, the Sobs and Chao1 indices for PM<sub>10</sub> were significantly higher than those for PM<sub>2.5</sub> in winter (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and in spring, the ACE index for PM<sub>10</sub> was significantly higher than that for PM<sub>2.5</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.05). For fungal α diversity, the Shannon index for PM<sub>10</sub> was significantly higher than that for PM<sub>2.5</sub> in winter (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and in spring, the Ace index for PM<sub>10</sub> was significantly higher than that for PM<sub>2.5</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The β diversity results indicate that season, rather than the particle size, had a significant effect on the microbial composition in the PM samples. A total of seven bacterial pathogen genera and 16 fungal allergen genera were identified in PM samples. In winter, the relative abundances of total bacterial pathogens and fungal allergens in PM<sub>2.5</sub> were higher than those in PM<sub>10</sub>. In contrast, the relative abundance of fungal allergens in PM<sub>10</sub> was higher in spring than in winter. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of PM from a pig barn across the particle sizes and seasons.
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spelling doaj-art-c33802bede7f4faab778d74eded970f12025-08-20T02:28:19ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-04-01158111610.3390/ani15081116Seasonal Dynamics of Microbial Communities in PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> from a Pig BarnQian Tang0Minyang Zhang1Lili Yu2Kaidong Deng3Huihua Mao4Jingwen Hu5Chuang Wang6College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 210038, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 210038, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 210038, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 210038, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 210038, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 210038, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 210038, ChinaModern, intensive, high-density farming practices cause elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM) inside livestock barns. PM in livestock barns is predominantly biological, hence, it contains abundant microorganisms. Understanding the microbial composition of PM is crucial for assessing the hazards of air emitted from livestock barns. PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> from a pig barn were collected in winter and spring, and morphological, chemical, and microbial analyses were performed. The PM samples exhibit diverse morphological characteristics. The top three elements detected in the PM samples were O, C, and Si. Other elements, including N, Al, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Zn, P, W, Ba, Fe, S, Cl, and Ti, were also identified in these samples. For bacterial α diversity, the Sobs and Chao1 indices for PM<sub>10</sub> were significantly higher than those for PM<sub>2.5</sub> in winter (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and in spring, the ACE index for PM<sub>10</sub> was significantly higher than that for PM<sub>2.5</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.05). For fungal α diversity, the Shannon index for PM<sub>10</sub> was significantly higher than that for PM<sub>2.5</sub> in winter (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and in spring, the Ace index for PM<sub>10</sub> was significantly higher than that for PM<sub>2.5</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The β diversity results indicate that season, rather than the particle size, had a significant effect on the microbial composition in the PM samples. A total of seven bacterial pathogen genera and 16 fungal allergen genera were identified in PM samples. In winter, the relative abundances of total bacterial pathogens and fungal allergens in PM<sub>2.5</sub> were higher than those in PM<sub>10</sub>. In contrast, the relative abundance of fungal allergens in PM<sub>10</sub> was higher in spring than in winter. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of PM from a pig barn across the particle sizes and seasons.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/8/1116pig houseparticulate mattermicrobial compositionseason
spellingShingle Qian Tang
Minyang Zhang
Lili Yu
Kaidong Deng
Huihua Mao
Jingwen Hu
Chuang Wang
Seasonal Dynamics of Microbial Communities in PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> from a Pig Barn
Animals
pig house
particulate matter
microbial composition
season
title Seasonal Dynamics of Microbial Communities in PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> from a Pig Barn
title_full Seasonal Dynamics of Microbial Communities in PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> from a Pig Barn
title_fullStr Seasonal Dynamics of Microbial Communities in PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> from a Pig Barn
title_full_unstemmed Seasonal Dynamics of Microbial Communities in PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> from a Pig Barn
title_short Seasonal Dynamics of Microbial Communities in PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> from a Pig Barn
title_sort seasonal dynamics of microbial communities in pm sub 2 5 sub and pm sub 10 sub from a pig barn
topic pig house
particulate matter
microbial composition
season
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/8/1116
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