Concentration of airborne endotoxins and airborne bacteria in Chinese rabbit houses.

Concentration of airborne endotoxins, airborne aerobic bacteria and airborne aerobic gram-negative bacteria were measured in 3 rabbit houses. Further, the species composition of the airborne gram-negative bacterial flora was investigated. The total amount of airborne endotoxin ranged from 22 to 774 EU/m3 (Endotoxin Units/m3). The number of total airborne aerobic bacteria varied between 780 and 20100 CFU/m3, the number of airborne aerobic gram-negative bacteria between 39 and 1030 CFU/m3. Most gram-negative bacterial isolates belonged to the family Enterobacteriaceae with E. coli as primary species. In two rabbit houses also airborne Pasteurella multocida spp. multocida, the most common respiratory pathogen of rabbits, was isolated.