Animal Fecal Material Research Articles

Hybridisation of F+ RNA coliphages detected in shellfish samples with oligonucleotide probes to assess the origin of microbiological pollution of shellfish

Current measures for controlling the public health risks associated with bivalve molluscan shellfish consumption rely on the use of Escherichia coli to indicate the sanitary quality of shellfish harvesting areas. However, it has been demonstrated that E. coli is an inadequate indicator of the viral risk associated with shellfish. An alternative indicator, male-specific B+ coliphages, have been investigated as viral indicators of faecal contamination that may provide source-specific information for impacted environmental waters. This study compared the distribution of E. coli and F+ RNA bacteriophages in shellfish grown in harvesting areas of Greece and also examined the presence and proportions of the different subgroups of F+ RNA coliphages in shellfish. F+ RNA bacteriophages were present in shellfish at higher concentrations than E. coli. Elevated numbers of F+ RNA bacteriophages observed in the winter concur with the known increased viral risk associated with shellfish harvested at that time of year in Greece. The majority of F+ RNA coliphages detected in shellfish samples belonged to group IV which indicated the possible presence of animal faecal material in sample harvesting areas. Phages of groups II and III (human waste and human faecal material, respectively) were present at low levels. Finally, 8% of the phages hybridised were found to belong to group I. The presence of group IV showed seasonal distribution (more in winter, less in summer) whereas the other groups did not show any difference. Monitoring of F+ coliphage subgroups may indicate the presence and major sources of microbial inputs to surface waters; however, environmental effects on the relative occurrence of different groups need to be considered.

Male-specific RNA coliphages detected by plaque assay and RT-PCR in tropical river waters and animal fecal matter

Male-specific RNA coliphages (FRNA) have been recommended as indicators of fecal contamination and of the virological quality of water. In this study, 16 river water and 183 animal fecal samples were examined for the presence of FRNA coliphages by a plaque assay using Salmonella typhimurium WG49 and WG25 to differentiate between male-specific and somatic phages, a RNase spot test to differentiate between DNA and RNA phages and a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the specific identification of FRNA phages. The overall recovery rate for F-specific coliphages was 8.0%. (4.4% from animal fecal matter and 50% from river water samples). Plaque counts were generally low (< 6×102 pfu per g feces or ml water), with FRNA (6.5%) and Male-specific DNA coliphages (FDNA) (7.0%) phages occurring at almost equal frequencies. The RT-PCR was positive in all FRNA plaques and was able to identify FRNA phages in mixed populations of FRNA, FDNA and somatic phages.

Transport of Chemical and Microbial Compounds from Known Wastewater Discharges: Potential for Use as Indicators of Human Fecal Contamination

The quality of drinking and recreational water is currently (2005) determined using indicator bacteria. However, the culture tests used to analyze forthese bacteria require a long time to complete and do not discriminate between human and animal fecal material sources. One complementary approach is to use chemicals found in human wastewater, which would have the advantages of (1) potentially shorter analysis times than the bacterial culture tests and (2) being selected for human-source specificity. At 10 locations, water samples were collected upstream and at two successive points downstream from a wastewaster treatment plant (WWTP); a treated effluent sample was also collected at each WWTP. This sampling plan was used to determine the persistence of a chemically diverse suite of emerging contaminants in streams. Samples were also collected at two reference locations assumed to have minimal human impacts. Of the 110 chemical analytes investigated in this project, 78 were detected at least once. The number of compounds in a given sample ranged from 3 at a reference location to 50 in a WWTP effluent sample. The total analyte load at each location varied from 0.018 microg/L at the reference location to 97.7 microg/L in a separate WWTP effluent sample. Although most of the compound concentrations were in the range of 0.01-1.0 microg/L, in some samples, individual concentrations were in the range of 5-38 microg/L. The concentrations of the majority of the chemicals present in the samples generally followed the expected trend: they were either nonexistent or at trace levels in the upstream samples, had their maximum concentrations in the WWTP effluent samples, and then declined in the two downstream samples. This research suggests that selected chemicals are useful as tracers of human wastewater discharge.

Cancer among meat industry workers

Several studies have found increased risks of cancer among workers in the meat industry, particularly lung and hematologic cancers. Relevant publications were obtained through a computerized literature search with the key words "cancer", "lung cancer", "hematologic neoplasms", "meat products", "abattoirs", and "slaughterhouses", and the evidence available from analyses of routine data, proportionate mortality and incidence studies, and cohort and case-control studies was reviewed. These analyses suggest a significant excess lung cancer risk among meat workers. This risk was associated the most strongly with exposure to animal slaughtering or freshly slaughtered meat or to biological material contained in blood and animal fecal matter, and it was greater than could be attributed to smoking. This finding suggests an etiologic role for biological exposure; however, the specific exposure(s) responsible are unknown, and further research is clearly required. The results of studies of hematologic cancers have been less consistent, but they suggest a small excess risk for leukemia in association with similar exposures.

Potential Virulence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility ofCampylobacter jejuniIsolates from Food and Companion Animals

Infection in humans with Campylobacter jejuni is commonly associated with exposure to food animal fecal material. In this study, we report on the recovery, potential for virulence and antimicrobial resistance levels of C. jejuni isolated from food and companion animals. Three hundred and seventy-eight fecal samples from food and companion animals and surface swabs from beef carcasses were tested for the presence of C. jejuni. C. jejuni was isolated from 13.8% (11/80) of dogs, 5% (1/20) of goats, 28.3% (17/60) of dairy cattle, 0% (0/65) of range cattle, 73.5% (36/49) of feedlot cattle, and 94.7% (18/19) of beef carcasses. Beef cattle from a single Arizona herd showed a considerable increase in fecal shedding of C. jejuni from pasture to feedlot and over time on the feedlot. Forty-two isolates were tested for susceptibility to four antimicrobial agents, each representing a class of antimicrobial drug approved for use in both humans and animals. None of the isolates were found to be resistant to erythromycin or gentamicin, whereas 2.4% of isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 28.6% of isolates were resistant to tetracycline. The presence of virulence traits among the 42 isolates was assessed using in vitro macrophage survival and epithelial cell adherence and invasion assays. Of the isolates examined, 17 were able to survive within macrophages through 72 h at viable counts of >/=10(3)/well and 12 were capable of invading epithelial cells at viable counts of >/=10(3)/well. Data from these studies suggests that many of the isolates recovered from the non-poultry animal sources have the capacity to cause disease if transmitted to humans.

Elevated CO2effects on decomposition processes in a grazed grassland

AbstractThe effects of elevated atmospheric CO2(475 μL L−1) onin situdecomposition of plant litter and animal faecal material were studied over 2 years in a free air CO2enrichment (FACE) facility. The pasture was grazed by sheep and contained a mixture of C3and C4grasses, legumes and forbs. There was no effect of elevated CO2on decomposition within plant species but marked differences between species with faster decomposition in dicots; a group that increased in abundance at elevated CO2. Decomposition of mixed herbage root material occurred at a similar rate to that of leaf litter suggesting that any CO2‐induced increase in carbon allocation to roots would not reduce rates of decomposition. Sheep faeces resulting from a ‘high‐CO2diet’ decomposed significantly slower during summer but not during winter. The overall outcome of these experiments were explored using scenarios that took account of changes in botanical composition, allocation to roots and the presence of herbivores. In the absence of herbivores, elevated CO2led to a 15% increase in the rate of mass loss and an 18% increase in the rate of nitrogen (N) release. In the presence of herbivores, these effects were partially removed (11% increase in rate of mass loss and 9% decrease in N release rate) because of the recycling occurring through the animals in the form of faeces.

Polyalkylphenyl-sulphonic acids with acid groups of variable strength from animal-vegetable wastes

The insoluble organic fraction isolated from rice-hulls residues and animal fecal matter mixture is sulphonated in liquid SO 3 at 200 °C to a water soluble sulphonate (III). III is compared to the sulphonate (IV) obtained from the same mix after composting. Both products have been found to contain mixtures of molecules with close molecular weight. These molecules consist of a central cicloaliphatic cluster with peripheral pending aromatic chains. III and IV appear to have the same sulphonation degree. However, the latter contains higher concentrations of cicloaliphatic fragments and of amide, phenol and ether bonds, but less carboxylic and amine functional groups. These differences may be reasonably traced back to the starting materials. By comparison with commercial lignosulphonates derived from the paper and pulp industry, the above arylsulphonates are likely candidates for a variety of applications in the chemical industry and in agriculture. We conclude that sulphonation, even under the drastic experimental conditions of this work, does not seem to erase the memory of the parent matter structure. This reaction is capable of upgrading recalcitrant organic matter in vegetable waste residues to an interesting variety of lignosulphonates.

Phenotypic population characteristics of the enterococci in wastewater and animal faeces: implications for the new European directive on the quality of bathing waters

Faecal pollution of recreational bathing waters may derive from point sources of various wastewaters or from more diffuse sources such as run-off of agricultural wastes. The paper describes the application of population similarity studies to the enterococcal flora of various animal faeces and municipal wastewaters as a means of distinguishing human from animal faecal material. A simplified phenotypic testing technique (PhenePlate, PhP) was used to study the fermentation kinetics of eleven carbohydrates by all bacterial isolates. Enterococcal isolates (1,766) from six sources were investigated. Enterococcal population diversity (measured as Simpson's Diversity Index) in wastewater samples was high (mean D(i) = 0.95) compared with those of non-human faeces. The mean diversity of isolates in seabird faeces was 0.72, in sheep and donkey faeces 0.44, in dog faeces 0.42 and in cattle faeces 0.32. Analysis of population similarity coefficients demonstrated that faeces from sheep and cattle showed the greatest similarity (S(p) = 0.72). Sheep and cattle faeces demonstrated a low similarity to municipal wastewater samples. This would suggest that population similarity studies might be a useful tool for distinguishing the relative contributions of municipal wastewater and agricultural run-off to bathing water pollution. The PhP procedure identified a specific PhP type that appears to have high specificity to non-human faeces. It may, therefore, represent an important tool in source tracking. Additional phenotypic and genotypic analysis of PhP types that demonstrate a high degree of source specificity is required. The benefits and limitations of the use of population similarity studies to distinguish pollution sources are discussed in comparison with other source tracking approaches and the implications of these developments for future European Union legislation on the quality of bathing waters are discussed.

Determination of the sources and distribution of sewage and pulp-fibre-derived pollution in the Derwent Estuary, Tasmania, using sterol biomarkers

A geographical survey of sediments in the Derwent Estuary, near Hobart (Tasmania), for sterol biomarkers of faecal pollution has established the extent, distribution and severity of sewage pollution in the estuary. Analysis of biomarkers for terrestrial plants has also determined the distribution of pulp fibre discharged from a paper mill at Boyer in the upper estuary. Contributions from other sources of extractable organics, such as hydrocarbons and terrestrial plant and animal faecal matter from stormwater and creeks were qualitatively evaluated. On the basis of the distribution of the faecal biomarker coprostanol, the mid estuary and parts of the upper estuary (from Newtown Bay to Taroona) are severely contaminated by sewage. Pollution from pulp fibre is worst in the upper estuary and concentrations of pulp-fibre biomarkers decrease downstream. Sediments of the lower estuary (south of Taroona) have biomarker distributions more typical of open marine systems with little evidence of pulp fibre. There is, however, evidence of low concentrations of faecal pollution in the lower estuary.

Biochemical fingerprinting of coliform bacterial populations – comparisons between polluted river water and factory effluents

Bacteria from different pollution sources may consist of essentially the same species but with different strains predominating. Therefore, sub-typing of bacterial strains recovered in the polluted water and comparison with those present in possible pollution sources is a valuable tool for identification of the source. Since such studies require investigations of large numbers of isolates, simple laboratory methods combined with automated data evaluation and presentation are necessary. The Phene Plate (PhP) system for biochemical fingerprinting of bacteria is based on measurements of the kinetics of biochemical tests, performed in micro-plates. The system also includes mathematical models to calculate the diversity (Di) of the bacterial flora within samples, as well as the similarities between bacterial populations in different samples as the population similarity coefficient (Sp). We have used the PhP system to type coliform bacteria isolated from a polluted river in Sweden and from the outlets from three paper mills that were suspected contamination sources. From each of 27 river water samples and 8 samples from factory outlets, collected on eight sampling occasions, between 10 and 50 coliforms were typed, yielding altogether 1,027 isolates. The diversity among the bacteria in river water samples was generally high (mean Di = 0.95) compared with factory outlets (mean Di = 0.63) which usually were dominated by isolates belonging to a few PhP types. These PhP types were very rarely recovered from the river water samples which is also reflected in low similarities between bacterial populations in river water and factory outlets (mean Sp = 0.03). Thus the bacteria from factory outlets did not seem to have spread downstream. In contrast, bacterial populations from sampling sites close to each other in the river were more similar to each other (mean Sp 0.13), indicating the presence of several, diffuse contamination sources, possibly from animal or human faecal material.

Biochemical fingerprinting of coliform bacterial populations — comparisons between polluted river water and factory effluents

Bacteria from different pollution sources may consist of essentially the same species but with different strains predominating. Therefore, sub-typing of bacterial strains recovered in the polluted water and comparison with those present in possible pollution sources is a valuable tool for idenlification of the source. Since such studies require investigations of large numbers of isolates, simple laboratory methods combined with automated data evaluation and presentation are necessary. The Phene Plate (PhP) system for biochemical fingerprinting of bacteria is based on measurements of the kinetics of biochemical tests, performed in micro-plates. The system also includes mathematical models to calculate the diversity (Di) of the bacterial flora within samples, as well as the similarities between bacterial populations in different samples as the population similarity coefficient (Sp). We have used the NIP system to type coliform bacteria isolated from a polluted river in Sweden and from the outlets from three paper mills that were suspected contamination sources. From each of 27 river water samples and 8 samples from factory outlets, collected on eight Sampling occasions, between 10 and 50 coliforms were typed, yielding altogether 1,027 isolates. The diversity among the bacteria in river water samples was generally high (mean Di = 0.95) compared with factory Outlets (mean Di = 0.63) which usually were dominated by isolates belonging to a few NIP types. These PhP types were very rarely recovered from the river water samples which is also reflected in low similarities between bacterial populations in river water and factory outlets (mean Sp = 0.03). Thus the bacteria from factory outlets did not seem to have spread downstream. In contrast, bacterial populations from sampling sites close to each other in the river were more similar to each other (mean Sp 0.13), indicating the presence of several, diffuse contamination sources, possibly from animal or human faecal material.

The dynamics of caribou and muskoxen foraging in arctic ecosystems

Forage system characteristics Numbers of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) in the Northwest Territories, Canada have changed rapidly in the last few decades (e.g. Gun et al. 1991). Our ability to respond to questions raised by those rapid changes is, however, compromised by our ignorance of the dynamics of the relationship between arctic ungulates and their forage which in turn inhibits our understanding of the population dynamics. The arctic ecosystem is relatively simple in terms of species diversity and herbivore numbers fluctuate against a background of unpredictably variable weather: a simple and changeable system is more easily stripped down to its essential components to describe their interactions. Arctic ecosystems have three dominant attributes which are the salient points in my conceptual model proposed here to unravel the population dynamics of arctic herbivores, (a) Plant productivity is restricted to brief annual pulses; (b) the weather is highly unpredictable and (c) most of the biomass is below ground locked into a slow cycle of decomposition. The nutrient input in tundra ecosystems is low and mostly slowly cycled through soil organic matter at the characteristic cool ambient temperatures. Plants depend heavily on the internal recycling of nutrients from storage tissue below ground. The tie-up of plant nutrients in detritus opens an accelerating role for herbivory in nutrient recycling animal fecal material breaks down and releases nutrients to the plants more rapidly than the overall detritus pool (Dowding et al. 1981). Muskoxen which forage in herds, graze intensively and deposit large amounts of dung in situ, wil l have a larger role in nutrient recycling than caribou within the plant communities where they forage. Caribou forage in smaller groups and graze extensively while walking. Arctic plants have a pulse of growth restricted by temperatures to a brief season. The onset of plant growth varies by weeks (Svoboda 1977, Muc 1977). Most plants are conservative and complete their growing season within a fixed period despite annual variations in the duration of the potential growing season. Flowering varies between years and is depressed by as much as 80% following a late cool season but productivity of green plant biomass in meadows is less responsive to summer temperature (Muc 1977, Svoboda 1977).

Occurrence of Rhodococcus coprophilus and associated actinomycetes in feces, sewage, and freshwater.

Freshwater, sewage, and fecal samples from various sources were examined for Rhodococcus coprophilus, associated actinomycetes, Escherichia coli, and fecal streptococci. Rhodococcus coprophilus was isolated consistently from feces of farm animals, poultry reared in proximity to farm animals, freshwater, and wastewater polluted with animal fecal wastes. It was not isolated from samples of human feces. The ratio of R. coprophilus total actinomycetes was higher in feces from cattle, sheep, ducks, and geese than in specimens from pigs, horses, and fowl. In samples from two freshwater streams polluted by fecal material from farm animals, the ratios of R. copropilus to total actinomycetes were similar to those found in fecal specimens from cattle and sheep. Ratios of fecal coliform to fecal streptococci could not distinguish between fresh human and animal fecal samples and, furthermore, were not reflected in the stream waters polluted by animal fecal material. R. coprophilus has potential in water and dairy bacteriology as a specific indicator organism of fecal pollution due to farm animal wastes.

Rural water quality control measures: An experience in the malumfashi district of Northern Nigeria

A study of water supply and its quality coupled with some health educational activities were undertaken in the Malumfashi Local Government Area (M.L.G.A.) of Kaduna State in Northern Nigeria, from July 1976, to April, 1977. In all, 10 ponds, 30 wells and 10 public standpipes were surveyed and analyzed for bacteriological quality, namely, Faecal Coliform (FC) and Faecal Streptococci (FS) organisms. The results indicated that the ponds and wells were mainly polluted by animal faecal matter while the public standpipes were polluted from human faecal sources. It is our hope that all environmental health planners will recognize the importance of integrating health educational schemes into environmental health programmes such as we have attempted here on water supply activities in the District.

DIFFERENTIATION STUDIES OF FECAL STREPTOCOCCI FROM FARM ANIMALS

Employing potassium tellurite, sodium azide, and thallium acetate broths, 361 strains of fecal streptococci were isolated from 142 farm animals representing 11 species. Although none of the three media gave 100% recovery, their collective use made it possible to obtain at least one fecal streptococcus strain from every fecal sample.Results of biochemical tests revealed that 14.8% were S. bovis, 12.7% were S. faecalis var. liquifaciens, and the remaining 72.5% were atypical faecalis groups.Using the 361 isolates from animal fecal material for validating the heat resistance and heat-tellurite tolerance tests for the differentiation between animal and human fecal streptococci strains, it was found that not one of these isolates could survive these combined tests. The importance of these tests is discussed.