BIOAEROSOL INVESTIGATION IN THREE VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITALS IN TAIWAN

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 fre...