WATER FROM PIG FARMS AS A RISK FACTOR TO HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH.

Abstract

Samples of human drinking water from sources, reservoirs and consumption sites in thirteen rural swine-producing farms at northeastern São Paulo State, Brazil, were analyzed. We studied the risk of drinking such water by the local inhabitants. During the rainy and dry seasons, 23.1% and 38.4% of samples sources, respectively, were not in accordance with microbiological drinking standards. We detected a decreasing water quality due to microbiological contamination from its source to the consumption site. We also analyzed the water given in different types of troughs according to the age of the pigs. Most water samples were not in accordance with drinking standards for the early growth phase of the animals. In such phase, there was a predominance of cup-like troughs. Such findings are important, since the animals are more prone to developing diseases during this juvenile stage. KEY-WORDS: Water. Coliform bacteria. Fecal contamination. Pig breeding.