Sodium Hypochlorite Treatment: The Impact on Bacteria and Endotoxin Concentrations in Drinking Water Pipes of A Pig Nursery

Abstract

Poor drinking water quality can affect pigs’ health and performance. The disinfection of water may enhance microbial water quality. In this study, bacteria and endotoxins in sodium hypochlorite-treated and -untreated water from one pig nursery were analyzed. Water samples were taken from incoming water and from compartments with treated and untreated water at the beginning and end of pipes and from nipples. The farm was visited 14 times to measure total bacteria counts and concentrations of Pseudomonas spp. and endotoxins. Additionally, the occurrence of coliform bacteria was analyzed. A mixed model analysis revealed significant reductions in total bacteria counts and Pseudomonas spp. in treated water at the beginning of pipes and at nipple drinkers. The differences between bacteria concentrations at the end of pipes had no clear trend. Endotoxin concentrations were approximately equal at the beginning of pipes and at nipple drinkers but were found to have differences at the end of pipes. The occurrence of coliform bacteria was significantly reduced in treated water. The application of sodium hypochlorite can significantly reduce bacteria in water pipes. Endotoxin concentrations were mostly unaffected by water treatment. Disinfection of the dead-end pipe sections failed, and thus these parts should be regarded as potential contamination sources.

Evaluation of Biological Antimicrobial Effect of Aloe Vera on Coliform Isolates in Leachate From a Dumpsite

“…The leachate show very high values of coliform count >1800 CFU/ml from the result obtained in Table 1. Coliform bacteria can be opportunistic pathogens and are regarded as indicator organisms for fecal contamination (Böger et al, 2020). The confirmatory test carried out in this study (Table 2) showed that the coliform present in the water sample were thermo-tolerant coliform that were both Escherichia coli, and nonE.…”

Innovative Perspectives on Biofilm Interactions in Poultry Drinking Water Systems and Veterinary Antibiotics Used Worldwide

“…Concerning biofilm formation, co-culture biofilms were chosen because interspecies interactions may influence the outcome during antibiotic or disinfectant exposure experiments when compared with monoculture approaches [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. The well-known biofilm formers pseudomonads ( P. aeruginosa or P. fluorescens ) were used due to their frequent detection in pipes of broiler [ 17 ] or pig premises [ 18 ], as well as due to their ability to aggregate rapidly and form biofilms [ 41 ]. Additionally, a reference strain of E. coli was included in the experiments as a representative of microbes, which are not usually part of water flora but may reach pipe networks via contamination with manure and pose a health risk for animals consuming water [ 18 ].…”

“…The well-known biofilm formers pseudomonads ( P. aeruginosa or P. fluorescens ) were used due to their frequent detection in pipes of broiler [ 17 ] or pig premises [ 18 ], as well as due to their ability to aggregate rapidly and form biofilms [ 41 ]. Additionally, a reference strain of E. coli was included in the experiments as a representative of microbes, which are not usually part of water flora but may reach pipe networks via contamination with manure and pose a health risk for animals consuming water [ 18 ]. Based on the constant number of culturable bacteria after 7 days ( Figure 1 ), the present biofilm growth method fulfilled quality requirements in terms of repeatability as well as uniformity for both co-culture biofilms, and therefore, seemed to be adequate for studying biofilm–antibiotic confrontation at an experimental level.…”

“…The latter are good prerequisites for the emergence and stabilization of resistance through mutation processes [ 85 ]. However, since long exposures to trace levels of antibiotics did not change the antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria from drinking water distribution systems [ 18 ], the role of the biofilm–antibiotic interactions during the medication with drinking water in poultry farms remains unclear.…”

“…From when drinking systems are put into operation, microorganisms colonize the inner surfaces of water lines and develop further into biofilms [ 16 ]. Once established in the pipe network, sessile bacteria are only affected to a very limited extent by cleaning and disinfection procedures [ 17 , 18 ], and consequently, close contact between antimicrobial compounds and biofilms as they traverse the pipe network before reaching the animals is unavoidable. Hence, the question arises if the interplay between biofilms proliferating on the inner surface of water distribution systems and the antibiotics administered via drinking water may influence the therapeutic outcome and/or contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in animal husbandry.…”