Analysis of microbial aerosols diversity in cattle farms in Ningxia.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Beef cattle farming, a key industry in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, has intensified, raising public health concerns due to bioaerosol emissions. However, the distribution characteristics of these bioaerosols remain poorly understood. METHODS: We characterized bacterial communities in bioaerosols from beef cattle pens across five Ningxia regions-Guyuan (G), Yinchuan (Y), Shizuishan (S), Zhongwei (Z), and Wuzhong (W)-and compared two rearing scales: smallholder farms (S) and large-scale farms (L). Using filter membrane sampling and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed bacterial abundance and diversity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Regional differences significantly influenced bacterial abundance (< 0.05), whereas rearing scales had minimal impact. We identified 45,486 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), of which 423 were shared across all samples, constituting a core microbiome that accounted for 46% of total sequences. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed greater microbial interaction complexity in regionally distinct samples. Our results elucidate the distribution of bioaerosol-borne microbial communities in cattle farms, highlighting potential transmission pathways of airborne microorganisms and informing strategies to mitigate exposure risks for livestock and workers.