A case study of possible health hazards associated with poultry houses

Abstract

This study on layer and broiler houses is expected to give basic information on the nature of microbes, their occurrence, health hazard they could constitute and the possibilities for disease control measures. Modern husbandry practices, state or local concentration of the industry, high stocking densities, uniform age distribution of birds and continuous feeding may promote the spread of poultry diseases. Illness due to contaminated food, poultry wastes, poultry and poultry by products are one of the most widespread problems of the contemporary world. From the poultry houses investigated, bacteria and fungi were isolated from swabs of window nets dust, feed stock, roof dust, faeces, floors, feeders, drinkers, feathers, cages and egg trays using standard microbiological media and biochemicals procedures. The isolates encountered include: Aspergillus furnigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus sp., Pasteurella gallinarum, Pasteurella multocida, Klebsiella sp., Eschericia coli, Salmonella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Yeast and Rhodotorula spp., which were not typed Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Bacilus sp., Pasteurella gallunarum, Klabsiella sp., Eschericia coli, Yeast and Rhodotorula Sp., were present in both layers and broilers houses structures and materials in varying proportions. However, Pasteurella Multocida, Salmonella sp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from egg trays, feathers, faeces, and feeders respectively from poultry house materials only and none from the structures of layers and broilers houses. The layer house structures and materials tend to yield more microbes mix than broiler house structures and materials. There were no acid-fast organisms observed from the sediments of washed swabs materials for culture using Ziehl-Neelsen stain.

Keywords: Poultry, house, health hazard, bacteria, fungi, microbes