title: Airborne cultivable microflora and microbial transfer in farm buildings and rural dwellings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exposure to environments rich in microorganisms such as farms has been shown to protect against the development of childhood asthma and allergies. However, it remains unclear where, and how, farm and other rural children are exposed to microbes. Furthermore, the composition of the microbial flora is poorly characterised. We tested the hypothesis that farm children are exposed indoors to substantial levels of viable microbes originating from animal sheds and barns. We also expected that environmental microbial flora on farms and in farm homes would be more complex than in the homes of rural control children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dust samples were collected using passive samplers in the bedrooms of the following groups of children in rural Bavaria, Germany: (i) those living on farms (n=144), (ii) those regularly exposed to farm environments but not living on farms (n=149) and (iii) those never visiting farms (n=150). For farm children, additional samples were collected in animal sheds and barns. All samples were subjected to fungal and bacterial culturing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Detectable levels of microorganisms were more often found in samples taken from farm dwellings than from other homes. Farm dwellings also showed higher microbial levels. Microbial counts of farm dwelling samples correlated with the counts in corresponding animal sheds and barns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microorganisms are transported from animal sheds and barns into farm dwellings. Therefore, children living in these environments are exposed when indoors and when visiting animal sheds and barns. Indoor exposure may also contribute to the protective effect of the farm environment.
authors: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Assistance Publique-Hoˆpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France. acecilenor@hotmail.com
authors: Anne-Cécile
authors: AC
authors: Normand
authors: Bertrand
authors: B
authors: Sudre
authors: Mallory
authors: M
authors: Vacheyrou
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Depner
authors: Inge M
authors: IM
authors: Wouters
authors: Ilka
authors: I
authors: Noss
authors: Dick
authors: D
authors: Heederik
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Hyvärinen
authors: Jon
authors: J
authors: Genuneit
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Braun-Fahrländer
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: von Mutius
authors: Renaud
authors: R
authors: Piarroux
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006798:Housing; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006801:Humans; D012423:Rural Health
chemical_list: D004391:Dust