The study of the bactericidal properties of dry salt aerosol in the dynamics of halotherapy in rooms for keeping horses

The aim of our study was to evaluate the microbial contamination of the air in a horse-keeping room before and after using dry salt aerosol, as well as to evaluate the dynamics of the microbial landscape in the horsekeeping room in the animal breathing zone and at different distances from the source of dry salt aerosol. To evaluate the bacterial contamination of the air when using a halogenerator, two horse-keeping rooms were organized - an experimental and a control room, each containing 4 horses, measuring 6x5x3.5, where 3.5 is the height of the room at the highest point. The room was conditionally sealed (slot losses remained) temporarily using polycarbonate window covers. Dry salt aerosol for halotherapy in horses was obtained using the Galovet halogenerator, which was used in the automatic Bronkhodzhenik mode, the session duration was 20 minutes. In the control room, the horses were not subjected to halotherapy. Visual, instrumental, microbiological, microscopic, epizootological research methods were used using generally accepted techniques. As a result of the research, it was determined that the microbial landscape of the air in the horse stable is mainly represented by Staphylococcus spp. bacteria, cocci and intestinal bacteria, mold fungi and transitional microorganisms (Nocardia spp.). In the dynamics of the use of haloaerosol, the growth of microorganisms on nutrient media was uneven in the experiment and control. A significant decrease in the concentration of staphylococci and intestinal bacteria in the respiratory zone of animals was noted. The decrease in the growth of staphylococci and intestinal bacteria at points as far away as possible from the operating halogenerator was insignificant or was not observed at the end of the session. Thus, halotherapy helps to reduce the microbial contamination of the air at a distance of at least 1.5 m from the location of the source of dry salt aerosol - the halogenerator. This effect remained pronounced 30 minutes after the end of the session. Based on the physical properties of the active dry highly dispersed sodium chloride aerosol, it can be argued that the process of its impact on microbial cells is accompanied by dehydration of the latter and an increase in their hydrophobic properties.

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