Environmental and hygienic parameters in intensive fattening rabbit farms have been poorly investigated so far. This paper describes the results arising from one-year monitoring activity carried out in an intensive fattening rabbit farm in Northern Italy. The measured parameters were temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), air speed, airflow, total dust, noxious gases (NH3, CO2, CH4, H2S), airborne bacteria and fungi. In relation to environmental parameters, T, RH and airflow were subjected to wide and rapid fluctuations during summer, autumn and spring. The highest levels of RH were measured under summer conditions, due to the evaporative cooling system activation. The highest NH3 and CO2 concentrations occurred in concurrence with minimum airflow rates (i.e. cold season, night-time, early hours). CH4 concentrations were highest in summer, whereas H2S concentrations showed some peaks when manure scrapers were in operation. Total dust levels were higher during autumn and winter, when minimum ventilation levels occurred. As regards hygienic parameters, P. multocida seemed influenced by seasonal conditions, probably due to wide and rapid fluctuations in T, RH and airflow as well as to high RH levels, showing an increasing trend from spring to autumn. The dermatophyte M. canis showed the highest concentrations in correspondence with minimum airflow rates (i.e. winter). The application of the monitoring protocol developed by the present study might lead to forecast the effects of some structural and management changes on the indoor environmental and hygienic conditions.
