Hygienic conditions in poultry and pig farms are a key to prevent the appearance and spread of epidemics among these animals. During the 19^th century, Far, Koch and Flugge established the conclusions of their studies focused on these sanitary conditions:

William Far (1807-1883) established two criteria to evaluate the danger of an epidemic (mortality percentage in relation to the population and confirmation of the injuries through necropsies); on his part, Robert Koch in 1884 established the Koch’s postulates (confirmation of the pathogenicity of the infectious agent). Then, it became necessary to research how the microorganisms passed from one individual to another.

It was Carl Flugge (1847 -1923) who, in 1890, demonstrated the existence of microdroplets that are expelled when breathing as a mechanism of infection between individuals. They were called “Flugge droplets” and although they are small in size, 5 to 10 microns, they can harbor bacteria and viruses, essentially respiratory, transporting them from one place to another.

With the contributions of Far, Koch and Flugge, the clinical veterinarians of the 20^th century food industry, could establish the hygienic measures to minimize mortality or reduce the spread of an epidemic. However, they must consider some breeding conditions such as:

• Breeding was carried out in high concentrations of animals per m² of surface or per m³ of air.
• High concentrations decrease air quality due to the increase of infective particles and toxic gases (CO₂ and NH₃) in the air.
• As a consequence, the pathogenicity of microorganisms is increased due to numerous “passes” between individuals.
• The increase in the concentration of toxic gases derived from the imbalance between respiration and ventilation (CO₂), and the fermentation of organic matter from the excrement (NH₃), produce irritation of the respiratory mucosa that become more permeable to bacterial infection and viruses.

With these considerations, clinical veterinarians decided to apply some measures to stop the spread of epidemics and the increase of the pathogenicity of the microorganisms to improve the quality of the respiratory mucosa. These measures are:

• Reduction of the concentrations of poultry and pigs per m² of surface or per m³ of air to achieve more hygienic levels.
• Improve constructions so that there is more access to clean air, and its renovation, including detectors of toxic gases that start up ventilation systems in case of reaching undesirable levels.
• Easy access to food and water (linear cm of feeder and water flow per minute) to reduce competition stress.
• Finally, the new legislation, which is being implemented, considers access to open spaces besides the farms.

At Veterinaria Digital we support the implementation of all those hygienic-sanitary measures that improve the quality of life of animals, in all farms, avoiding the formation of epidemic nuclei and their expansion.