Devitalisation of pathogens in stored pig slurry and potential risk related to its application to agricultural soil

Jan Venglovsky,Nada Sasakova,Gabriela Gregova,Tatiana Szaboova,Frantisek Toth,Ingrid Papajova

doi:10.1007/s11356-017-0557-2

Abstract

The study investigated the risks arising from application of pig slurry to soil in relation to viability of Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, total coliforms, faecal enterococci and eggs of Ascaris suum at different temperatures. Potential effect of changes in physico-chemical parameters, particularly dry matter (DM), pH and ammonia, were also investigated. Examination showed that S. typhimurium was devitalised after storage in the slurry for 115 days at 4 °C and after 90 days at 20 and 42 °C. Devitalization of E. coli and faecal entrerococci required more than 115 at temperature of 4 °C and faecal enterococci were recovered from slurry after 115 days of storage even at temperature of 20 °C. Total coliforms survived for 115 days at all investigated temperatures. Complete devitalization of A. suum eggs was not achieved even after 115 days at 42 °C. Our investigations indicated potential microbial and parasitic risk related to application of pig slurry to soil even after 115 days of storage.

Highlights

Microbiological and parasitical risks related to application of pig slurry to soil Pig slurry is classified as a natural fertiliser of animal origin, being a mixture of faeces, urine, remains of fodder and water used for the elimination of faeces
The aim of the study was to investigate the viability of S. typhimurium, E. coli, total coliforms, faecal enterococci and A. suum eggs in raw pig slurry stored at different temperatures in order to assess the microbial and parasitic risks related to application of animal wastes to soil
The initial concentration of the tested S. typhimurium strain in manure stored at 4 °C decreased by three orders of magnitude by day 90, and by day 115, the test strain was not recovered

Summary

Introduction

Microbiological and parasitical risks related to application of pig slurry to soil Pig slurry is classified as a natural fertiliser of animal origin, being a mixture of faeces, urine, remains of fodder and water used for the elimination of faeces. It is generated in litterless housing systems, where animals are kept on slatted or partially slatted floors. Chemical composition varies as it depends on many factors, such as the type and the age of animals, their feeding system and maintenance, the quality of fodder, as well as the dilution of the slurry and its storage method (Marszalek et al 2014). There can be micro-organisms excreted by animals together with faeces, urine, milk, blood, purulent discharges, nasal and throat discharges, as well as discharges from vaginal tracts and amniotic fluid (Marszalek et al 2014)

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Conclusion