[The effect of husbandry, management and stall climate on lung changes in swine]

21 swine fattening units (17 closed and 4 open swine herds), their pigs suffering from chronic respiratory disease since a long time were investigated concerning fattening period, morbidity, mortality, lung lesions by slaughtered swine, microorganisms involved, husbandry and management conditions, stall climate (indoor temperature, relative air humidity, contents of NH3, CO2, H2S, air microorganisms and dust). We estimated annual fattening periods of 137.4 +/- 6.8 days, morbidity of 49.1 +/- 12.2% and mortality of 6.8 +/- 3.7%. About 55-96% of lungs of slaughtered pigs showed pneumonic lesions in different degrees. Bacteriological examination of such lesions revealed up to 9 and not less than 3 different bacteria species per unit. Continuous producing systems were used by 19 units, only 2 units were managed by all in all out system. Pigs of 70 kg weight have air spaces of 1.7-3.1 m3, indoor temperature were between 21-26 C degrees and relative air humidity between 83.9 +/- 13.7%. Concentration of NH3 was found between 3-35 ppm, of CO2 between 500-3500 ppm, the numerical content of bacteria was within 900-1620 cfu (colony forming units) and of fungi between 2-80 cfu per litre air. There were also E. coli with and without haemolysis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, beta-haemolyzing streptococci and staphylococci in stall air. 2 swine houses gave 3-5, 15 houses 12-50 and 4 houses more than 50 cfu/cm2 blood agar plates exposed for 1 minute to the stable air (sedimentation method to judge stall dust). Animals of the later mentioned 4 houses showed the highest incidence of respiratory disorders (> 50% of pigs).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)