Livestock Feces Research Articles

Autophagy is upregulated in brain tissues of pigeons exposed to avermectin

Avermectin (AVM) is used in agriculture and veterinary medicine for the prevention of parasitic diseases; AVM is the active component of some insecticidal and nematicidal products. Residues of AVM drugs or their metabolites in livestock feces have toxic effects on non-target aquatic and terrestrial organisms. In this study, changes in the levels of autophagy related genes and ultrastructure in pigeon brain tissues after subchronic exposure to AVM for 30, 60 and 90 d were investigated. The decrease in the mRNA levels of TORC1 and TORC2 and increase in the mRNA levels of LC3, Beclin 1, Dynein, ATG5 and ATG4B and the increase in the protein levels of LC3, Beclin 1 and Dynein in a dose– and time-dependent manner in the pigeon brain were observed. The number of autophagic vacuoles in the cerebrum, cerebellum and optic lobe increased significantly with the concentration of AVM and the exposure time. We found that the changes in the levels of autophagy related genes and the ultrastructure in the cerebrum were more obvious than in the cerebellum and the optic lobe. The results suggest that AVM could induce autophagy in pigeon brain tissues. The information presented in this study is helpful for understanding the mechanism of AVM-induced autophagy in birds.

Tracing fecal pollution sources in karst groundwater by Bacteroidales genetic biomarkers, bacterial indicators, and environmental variables

Fecal contamination in Midwestern karst regions was evaluated by simultaneously measuring traditional bacterial indicators (coliforms and Escherichia coli), Bacteroidales-based biomarkers, and environmental variables. Water samples from springs and wells were collected from karst regions in Illinois (IL), Wisconsin (WI), Kentucky (KY), and Missouri (MO). Quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) with seven primer sets targeting different members of Bacteroidales was used to determine the origin of fecal contamination (i.e., from human waste, livestock waste, or both). Most samples were contaminated by both human and animal waste, with a few samples showing pollution solely by one or the other. Spring water tended to have higher levels of contamination than well water, and higher concentrations of fecal biomarkers were detected in urban springs compared to rural spring systems. However, there were discrepancies on contamination profile determined by Bacteroidales-based biomarkers and by traditional bacterial indicators. Among all the environmental parameters examined, E. coli, sulfate, total dissolved solids (TDS), and silicon were significantly correlated (p<0.05) with the level of Bacteroidales-based fecal indicators. A rapid screening method using total nitrogen (TN) and chloride (Cl−) concentrations to determine fecal contamination was shown to be effective and correlated well with Bacteroidales-based MST. The results suggest that human and livestock feces co-contaminated a large portion of karst groundwater systems in Midwestern regions, and the inclusion of traditional bacterial indicators, environmental variables, and Bacteroidales-based MST is an effective approach for identifying fecal contamination in karst regions.

Insusceptibility to disinfectants in bacteria from animals, food and humans-is there a link to antimicrobial resistance?

Enterococcus faecalis (n = 834) and Enterococcus faecium (n = 135) from blood and feces of hospitalized humans, from feces of outpatients and livestock and from food were screened for their susceptibility to a quaternary ammonium compound (didecyldimethylammoniumchloride, DDAC) and to 28 antibiotics by micro-/macrodilution. The maximum DDAC-MIC in our field study was 3.5 mg/l, but after adaptation in the laboratory, MIC values of 21.9 mg/l were observed. Strains for which DDAC had MICs > 1.4 mg/l (“non-wildtype,” in total: 46 of 969 isolates/4.7%) were most often found in milk and dairy products (14.6%), while their prevalence in livestock was generally low (0–4%). Of human isolates, 2.9–6.8% had a “non-wildtype” phenotype. An association between reduced susceptibility to DDAC, high-level-aminoglycoside resistance and aminopenicillin resistance was seen in E. faecium (p < 0.05). No indications for a common source of non-wildtype strains were found by RAPD-PCR; however, several non-wildtype E. faecalis shared the same variant of the emeA-gene. In addition, bacteria (n = 42) of different genera were isolated from formic acid based boot bath disinfectant (20 ml of 55% formic acid/l). The MICs of this disinfectant exceeded the wildtype MICs up to 20-fold (staphylococci), but were still one to three orders of magnitude below the used concentration of the disinfectant (i. e., 1.1% formic acid). In conclusion, the bacterial susceptibility to disinfectants still seems to be high. Thus, the proper use of disinfectants in livestock surroundings along with a good hygiene praxis should still be highly encouraged. Hints to a link between antibiotic resistance and reduced susceptibility for disinfectants—as seen for E. faecium—should be substantiated in further studies and might be an additional reason to confine the use of antibiotics.

Isolation of a Campylobacter lanienae‐like Bacterium from Laboratory Chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger)

Routine necropsies of 27 asymptomatic juvenile chinchillas revealed a high prevalence of gastric ulcers with microscopic lymphoplasmacytic gastroenteritis and typhlocolitis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using Campylobacter genus-specific partial 16S rRNA primers revealed the presence of Campylobacter spp. DNA in the faeces of 12 of 27 animals (44.4%). Species-specific partial 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing confirmed that these animals were colonized with Campylobacter lanienae, a gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that was first identified on routine faecal screening of slaughterhouse employees and subsequently isolated from faeces of livestock. Campylobacter lanienae was isolated from the faeces of six PCR-positive animals and identified with species-specific PCR and full 16S rRNA sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these isolates clustered with C.lanienae strain NCTC 13004. PCR analysis of DNA extracted from gastrointestinal tissues revealed the presence of C.lanienae DNA in the caecum and colon of these chinchillas. Gastrointestinal lesions were scored and compared between C.lanienae-positive and C.lanienae-negative animals. There was no correlation between colonization status and lesion severity in the stomach, liver, duodenum, or colon. Possible routes of C.lanienae infection in chinchillas could include waterborne transmission and faecal-oral transmission from wild mice and rats or livestock. Based on these findings, the authors conclude that C.lanienae colonizes the lower bowel of chinchillas in the absence of clinical disease. This is the first report of C.lanienae in any rodent species. Campylobacter lanienae isolates from different mammalian species demonstrate heterogeneity by 16S rRNA sequence comparison. Analysis using rpoB suggests that isolates and clones currently identified as C.lanienae may represent multiple species or subspecies.

Effects of avermectin on immune function and oxidative stress in the pigeon spleen

Avermectin (AVM) is a pesticide that can accumulate in the environment through spray-drift, runoff or field drainage. Residues of AVM or its metabolites in livestock feces have toxic effects on non-target aquatic and terrestrial organisms. In this study, changes in oxidative stress and immunity in pigeon spleen tissues were detected after subchronic exposure to AVM for 30, 60, and 90days. In pigeon spleen, the activities of total anti-oxidation capability (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) decreased significantly, whereas the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PCO), and DNA–protein crosslink (DPC) coefficients increased. Additionally, obvious ultrastructure alterations were observed. These results indicated that AVM induced oxidative stress and damaged the normal structure of spleen cells. The exposure to AVM could lead to increases in the mRNA levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-4 (IL-4), as well as a decrease in the mRNA level of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), in a dose–time-dependent manner in pigeon spleen. The results imply that AVM induces immunosuppression in the spleen tissue of pigeons. The information presented in this study may be helpful for understanding the mechanism of AVM-induced immunotoxicity in birds.

Development and use of Bacteroides 16S rRNA Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Source Tracking Dog Faecal Pollution in Bathing Waters

Faecal pollution on bathing beaches poses a potential threat to human health and as a result may also negatively affect the local economy. In instances where the source of such pollution is not obvious, it may be necessary to track such sources using a host-specific genetic markers technique. Bacteroides species are potential indicators for source tracking of faecal pollution in bathing waters. This study designed specific primer sets to amplify sections of the 16S rRNA gene unique to Bacteroides from domestic dogs and used quantitative PCR (qPCR) to quantify such genetic markers in environmental samples. The sensitivity and specificity of the primer sets was determined; they were specific in silico against known dog Bacteroides sequences and in vitro against Bacteroides sequences originating from human and livestock faeces. Dog faecal Bacteroides contamination was then detected in sea water during the bathing season at a local beach where dogs are banned during the summer months, in spite of the fact that these waters had met EU directive standards based on the culture-based enumeration of faecal indicator bacteria. Quantitative PCR was used to determine the limit of detection (LOD) of the dog Bacteroides genetic markers in these water samples. The copy number of dog Bacteroides genetic markers in the water was low and the LOD of those markers was 4 copies per reaction. The use of these dog primers has the potential to supply important additional information when source tracking faecal pollution at bathing beaches and maintaining water quality.

The Influence of Bioactivator Cattle Feces Against The Length of Composting and C/N Ratio from Three Kind of Organic Material

Research of the influence of bio-activator cattle feces against the length of composting and C/N ratio has been done. The purpose of the research was to (1) learn the gift of cattle feces as a compost bio-activator on some materials to accelerate the composting and C/N ratio (2) Determine the best of bio-activator livestock feces in composting process. Research carried out for 8 weeks from April-June 2013. Making compost is done at home composting Agricultural Polytechnic of Payakumbuh, and chemical analysis in Soil Laboratory Andalas University. This study used a factorial 3 x 4 drawn up according to the full Random Design with three replicates. Research on using straw (A1), azoles (A2) and water hyacinth (A3) as a raw material for compost. The second factor: without feces (B1), cow feces (B2), goat feces (B3), and chicken feces (B4) as bio-activator. The observation parameter consists of a long composting and C/N ratio. The results showed that bio-activator cattle feces can accelerate composting and lowering the ratio C/N compost. The best bio-activator to accelerate composting and lowering the C/N of compost is the cow feces.

Qualitative Assessment of Livestock Faeces and Sewage for Antibiotic Resistant Strains of E. coli in Roma, Lesotho

Sewage water (SW) and fresh livestock faeces: Chicken (ChNF), Sheep (SF), and Cattle (CF) were taken randomly from the farm of the National University of Lesotho aseptically during the 2012 academic year. Twenty ml of sewage water or 20 grams of fresh animal faeces was dissolved in 80 ml of sterilized Ringer’s solution and serially diluted. A 0.1 ml of sample suspension at 10 -4 dilution was spread plated on Nutrient Agar (NA) and Eosine Methyl Blue (EMB) and plates were incubated for 24-48h at 24 and 37°C, respectively. A disc diffusion method was used to test the reaction of selected strains of Enterobacteriaceae to nine antibiotics. In total, 24 strains under Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from the respective sources and the number of each that were Escherichia coli, as confirmed by the biochemical tests were: SW (7 and 3); ChNF (5 and 3); SF (8 and 6) and CF (4 and 2). Thirteen E. coli strains fermented lactose and were Catalase positive, while only one E. coli strain from SW was non-lactose fermenter and Catalase negative. The lethal potencies, as number of isolates sensitive to the 9 antibiotics, ranked as: Colistin = Amikacin (24/24) > Kanamycin (23/24) > Chloramphenicol (22/24) > Cefotaxime (21/24) > Sulphafurazole (7/24) > Methicillin (1/24) > Penicillin G = Rifampicin (0/24). Sensitivity of the E. coli strains ranked as follows, Colistin = Amikacin = Kanamycin (14/14) > Chloramphenicol (13/14) > Cefotaxime (12/14) > Sulphafurazole (6/14) > Methicillin (1/14) > Penicillin G = Rifampicin (0/14). This result showed that the development of antibiotic resistant E. coli strains, which can pass through food chain to humans and other organisms if stringent control measures are not taken. Strict quarantine procedures have to be applied to control such potential health risks.

Antioxidant response and histopathological changes in brain tissue of pigeon exposed to avermectin

Avermectins (AVMs) are the active components of some insecticidal and nematicidal products used in agriculture and veterinary medicine for the prevention of parasitic diseases. Residues of AVM drugs or their metabolites in livestock feces have toxic effects on non-target aquatic and terrestrial organisms. In this study, oxidative stress responses and pathological changes on pigeon brain tissues and serum after subchronic exposure to AVM for 30, 60 and 90 days were investigated. The decrease in antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, SOD and glutathione peroxidase, GSH-Px) activities and increase in methane dicarboxylic aldehyde content in a dose-time-dependent manner in the brain and serum of pigeon were observed. The protein carbonyl content, an indicator of protein oxidation, and DNA-protein crosslink coefficient were significantly augmented with dose-time-dependent properties. The microscopic structures of the cerebrum, cerebellum and optic lobe altered obviously, the severity of which increased with the concentration of AVM and exposure time. The results imply that AVM could induce oxidative damage to the brain tissue and serum of pigeon. The information presented in this study is helpful to understand the mechanism of AVM-induced oxidative stress in birds.

가축분뇨를 이용한 동애등에 증식기술 개발

본 연구는 국내 서식하는 아메리카동애등애(BSF)의 생태특성 구명 및 가축분뇨를 이용한 BSF의 실내 인공사육을 통하여 가축분뇨나 음식물쓰레기 처리 시 대량으로 요구되는 유충생산을 위하여 실내 인공증식기술 개발하고 BSF의 가축분뇨 분해 능력을 검정하였다. BSF는 축사를 중심으로 하는 즉 유기성 폐기물이 야적되어 있는 장소의 생태계 내에서 서식한다는 것을 확인하였으며, 축사, 퇴비사, 생활쓰레기장, 음식물쓰레기장 주변이 주 서식지임을 확인하였다. 가축분뇨 분해 우수 종은 BSF(Hermetia illucens), 동에등에(Ptecticus tenebrifer) 등 2종으로 확인되었다. 가축분뇨에 따른 BSF의 분해능은 BSF 유충 마리당 돈분 0.5 g, 우분 0.43 g, 계분 0.3 g순으로 돈분이 가장 우수하였다. 가축분뇨별 BSF 유충의 분해에 따른 무게는 우분 83.62, 돈분 77, 계분 80%로 우분이 분해 후 무게 감소가 가장 컸다. 가축분뇨 분해에 따른 BSF 유충 및 번데기 형질은 돈분이나 돈분 +왕겨를 혼합하여 처리했을 때 유충이나 번데기의 길이, 무게 폭이 다른 처리구에 비해 좋았다. BSF 실내 대량증식에 있어서 용화율 및 우화율에는 큰 차이를 보이지 않았으나 교미 산란에 있어서 중요한 요소인 광조건 변화에 의한 계절적 교미율의 차이를 보였다. 계절에 따른 BSF의 교미율을 보면 5월에서 7월까지 교미가 활발하게 이루어 졌으며, 시간대는 오전 10시부터 12시까지 가장 활발하게 교미를 하였다. 인공채란을 위한 산란배지는 음식물과 송아지 사료가 가장 우수하였고, 산란실(<TEX>$W{\times}D{\times}H=4{\times}2{\times}2m$</TEX>) 내 적정 배지투입 수는 8개, 성충은 2000두 투입구가 가장 산란효율이 높았다. 산란유도재료로 플라워폼과 목재에 구멍을 뚫어 산란을 유도하였으며, 산란장소의 구멍크기는 3~5 mm, 깊이 7~10 mm의 크기를 가장 선호하였다. 유충은 2~4두/<TEX>$cm^2$</TEX>의 밀도로 사육하는 것이 과밀도(6~10두/<TEX>$cm^2$</TEX>) 보다 실용형질이 우수하였다. 번데기 적정보호조건은 매질(톱밥)을 사용하여 은신처를 제공해야하며, 톱밥의 습도는 20~40%가 가장 좋았다. 성충은 우화 즉시 사용해야하나, 용화 후 10에서 10일 처리한 경우 우화율 93.3%로 우화시기를 약 10일 정도 조절이 가능하였다. This study was conducted to investigated the distribution, ecological character and life cycle of Black Soldier Fly(BSF), Hermetia illucens, to determine effects of BSF on composing ability to the livestock feces. The distribution of BSF was defined in all parts of the country in Korea. Its main habitat was found to be areas near cattle sheds, feces sheds, living waste dump grounds, and food waste dump grounds. Excellent species of the bio-conversion using the livestock feces were selected out of two kinds of solider flies(Hermetia illucens and Ptecticus tenebrifer). And effects of BSF on composing ability to the livestock feces were pig feces 0.5 g, cattle feces 0.43 g and chicken feces 0.3 g per a larvae of BSF. In the examination of the ability of BSF to decompose food waste, volume of the livestock feces decreased by weight pig feces 77, cattle feces 83.62 and chicken feces 80%. Observed characteristics of BSF larvae and pupae stage were by developmental stage may be summarized as follows: size and length of larvae and pupae of BSF were higher than in pig feces and mixed sawdust treatments. In order to develop artificial indoor rearing techniques, The pupation and emergence rate were not visible the difference but important factor of the mating and egg-laying was a sun light. And it was visible the difference in mating ratio. Mating rate of H. illucens by seasonal change was the highest from May to July. Mating mostly occurred between 10 : 00 and 12 : 00 during which light intensity is high. As the egg-laying medium for artificial egg collection, calf feed and food waste were most effective. The ratio of egg-laying medium is waste food : sawdust(1 : 1) in volume. For egg-laying materials, flower foam and wood with holes were used; holes sized 3 ~ 5 mm in diameter, 7 ~ 10 mm in depth were most preferred for egg-laying.

사례분석을 통한 농촌형 저탄소 녹색마을 타당성 검토

This study examined the overall feasibility of low carbon green village formed in rural area. The check method is analyzing its environmental and economic feasibility and energy self-reliance. The biomass of the villages was set as 28 ton/day of livestock feces and 2 ton/day of cut fruit tree branches which make up the total of 30 ton/day. The facility consisted of a bio gasfication facility using wet (livestock feces) biomass and combined heat power generator, composting facility and wood boiler using dry (cut fruit tree branches) biomass. When operating the system, 540,540 kWh/yr of electricity and 1,762 Gcal/yr of heat energy was produced. The region's electricity energy and heat energy self-reliance rate will be 100%. The economic feasibility was found as a loss of 140 million won where the facility installation cost is 5.04 billion won, operation cost is 485.09 million won and profit is 337.12 million won. There will be a loss of about 2.2 billion won in 15 years but in the environmental analysis, it was found that crude replacement effect is about 178 million won, greenhouse gas reduction effect is about 92 million won making up the total environmental benefit of 270 million won. This means, there will be a yearly profit of about 130 million won. In terms of its environmental and economic feasibility and energy self-reliance, this project seemed to be a feasible project in overall even if it manages to get help from the government or local government.

Foodborne illness associated with Cryptosporidium and Giardia from livestock.

Waterborne outbreaks caused by Cryptosporidium and Giardia are well documented, while the public health implications for foodborne illness from these parasites have not been adequately considered. Cryptosporidium and Giardia are common in domestic livestock, where young animals can have a high prevalence of infection, shedding large numbers of oocysts and cysts. Molecular epidemiological studies have advanced our knowledge on the distribution of Cryptosporidium and Giardia species and genotypes in specific livestock. This has enabled better source tracking of contaminated foods. Livestock generate large volumes of fecal waste, which can contaminate the environment with (oo)cysts. Evidence suggests that livestock, particularly cattle, play a significant role in food contamination, leading to outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis. However, foodborne giardiasis seems to originate primarily from anthroponotic sources. Foodborne cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis are underreported because of the limited knowledge of the zoonotic potential and public health implications. Methods more sensitive and cheaper are needed to detect the often-low numbers of (oo)cysts in contaminated food and water. As the environmental burden of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts from livestock waste increases with the projected increase in animal agriculture, public health is further compromised. Contamination of food by livestock feces containing Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts could occur via routes that span the entire food production continuum. Intervention strategies aimed at preventing food contamination with Cryptosporidium and Giardia will require an integrated approach based on knowledge of the potential points of entry for these parasites into the food chain. This review examines the potential for foodborne illness from Cryptosporidium and Giardia from livestock sources and discusses possible mechanisms for prevention and control.

Quality Characteristics of Livestock Feces Composts Commercially Produced in Gyeonggi Province in 2008

This survey was conducted to promote the environment-friendly use and recycling of livestock feces by obtaining information about the current state of livestock feces composts manufactured in Gyeonggi Province. Therefore, some aspects of quality and manufacturing techniques of livestock feces composts (LFCs) were examined especially in relation to the LFCs quality standard (LQS). By surveying the 70 composting plants in Gyeonggi Province, the total commercial production of LFCs in 2008 was estimated to be about <TEX>$480,000Mg\;year^{-1}$</TEX> and they were manufactured mainly by using both mechanical mixer and bottom air blower. LFCs were composed mainly of chicken feces 29.2%, pig+chicken feces 23.1%, pig feces 20.0%, livestock feces+oil cake 12.3%, pig+chicken+cattle feces 10.8% and pig+cattle feces 4.6%. On the basis of the current official standard which was revised on March 2010, 11 composts out of surveyed 76 ones did not meet the LQS due to inadequate content of water (5), OM/N (1), NaCl (2) and Zn (3). The satisfaction rate to LQS by manufacturers was 100% in the composts produced by farmer's cooperative societies, 80.7% by civil factories, and 44.4% by farming guilds, respectively. The OM/N declined by adding chicken feces and oil cake, while Ca content was increased by the addition of chicken feces and NaCl was increased by adding cattle feces.

Evaluation of Lactobacillus sobrius/L. amylovorus as a New Microbial Marker of Pig Manure

Based on a comparison of the dominant microbial populations in 17 pig manure samples and using a molecular typing method, we identified a species, Lactobacillus sobrius and Lactobacillus amylovorus (which now are considered a single species and are designated L. sobrius/amylovorus here), that was consistently found in manure. The aim of the present study was to confirm by real-time PCR the relevance of this species as a marker of pig fecal contamination. The specificity of L. sobrius/amylovorus was evaluated in human and animal DNA extracted from feces. The real-time PCR assay then was applied to water samples, including effluents from urban wastewater treatment plants, runoff water, and rivers. L. sobrius/amylovorus was consistently present in all samples of swine origin: 48 fecal samples, 18 from raw manure and 10 from biologically treated manure at mean concentrations of 7.2, 5.9, and 5.0 log(10) cells/g, respectively. The species was not detected in any of the other livestock feces (38 samples from cattle and 16 from sheep), in the 27 human fecal samples, or in the 13 effluent samples from urban wastewater treatment plants. Finally, L. sobrius/amylovorus was not detected in runoff water contaminated by cattle slurry, but it was quantified at concentrations ranging from 3.7 to 6.5 log(10) cells/100 ml in runoff water collected after pig manure was spread on soil. Among the stream water samples in which cultured Escherichia coli was detected, 23% tested positive for L. sobrius/amylovorus. The results of this study indicate that the quantification of L. sobrius/amylovorus using real-time PCR will be useful for identifying pig fecal contamination in surface waters.

Re-shaping models of E. coli population dynamics in livestock faeces: Increased bacterial risk to humans?

Dung-pats excreted directly on pasture from grazing animals can contribute a significant burden of faecal microbes to agricultural land. The aim of this study was to use a combined field and modelling approach to determine the importance of Escherichia coli growth in dung-pats when predicting faecal bacteria accumulation on grazed grassland. To do this an empirical model was developed to predict the dynamics of an E. coli reservoir within 1ha plots each grazed by four beef steers for six months. Published first-order die-off coefficients were used within the model to describe the expected decline of E. coli in dung-pats. Modelled estimates using first-order kinetics led to an underestimation of the observed E. coli land reservoir, when using site-specific die-off coefficients. A simultaneous experiment determined the die-off profiles of E. coli within fresh faeces of beef cattle under field relevant conditions and suggested that faecal bacteria may experience growth and re-growth in the period post defecation when exposed to a complex interaction of environmental drivers such as variable temperature, UV radiation and moisture levels. This growth phase in dung-pats is not accounted for in models based on first-order die-off coefficients. When the model was amended to incorporate the growth of E. coli, equivalent to that observed in the field study, the prediction of the E. coli reservoir was improved with respect to the observed data and produced a previously unquantified step-change improvement in model predictions of the accumulation of these faecal bacteria on grasslands. Results from this study suggest that the use of first-order kinetic equations for determining land-based reservoirs of faecal bacteria should be approached with caution and greater emphasis placed on accounting for actual survival patterns observed under field relevant conditions.

Evaluation of agricultural non-point source pollution and countermeasures in Shuikou Reservoir Drainage Area

通过对水口库区流域内18个镇(乡)的农业面源污染源(包括生活污染、人粪尿、农村固体废物及生活垃圾、化肥、畜禽养殖、农田养分流失、村镇地表径流、水产养殖等)调查，并采用等标排放量进行评价，结果显示：2005年该流域全年CODcr、TN和TP的排污量分别为6 288.87 t、4 450.07 t和1 448.82 t，总等标排放量为19 357.55×10⁶m³，其中CODcr、TN和TP的污染率指数分别为2.17%、22.99%和74.85%，故磷和氮是水口库区流域水体污染的主要污染物。污染率指数大小排在前3位的污染源为农田水土流失、水产养殖和畜禽粪尿，分别为41.95%、36.81%和10.60%，三者总和占全流域污染率的89.36%，是该流域农业面源污染的主要污染源。各乡镇间相比较，2005年全年等标排放量以黄田镇居第1位，达2 942.14×10⁶m³，污染率指数为15.20%；水口镇和东桥镇次之。不同乡镇的主要污染源有所不同，例如黄墩办、水东办以生活污水为主，炉下镇、大横镇等以畜禽粪尿为主，梅溪镇、东桥镇等以农田养分流失为主，水口镇、尤溪口镇等以水产养殖为主，不同乡镇在治理农业面源污染问题上应各有所侧重。最后提出水口库区流域农业面源污染的防治对策，主要包括：完善农业立法、强化经营管理措施，加强农化物质投入最小化技术研究，开展畜禽粪便多用途综合利用，发展生态农业和有机农业、提倡清洁生产，合理投放鱼饲料和药物、减少流失率。

Detection of protease genes in field soil applied with liquid livestock feces and speculation on their function and origin

The origin of soil protease in field soil was estimated using culture-dependent and independent approaches. Overall soil protease activity was much higher in field soils with an annual application of liquid livestock feces (120 t ha−1 year−1 and 600 t ha−1 year−1) compared with the activity recorded in other field soils, and the character of the soil proteases became highly homogeneous (approximately 70% metalloprotease in a 600 t field). Selective incubation studies suggested that bacteria were the most important source of soil protease. There were significantly higher correlations between serratial metalloprotease and the overall soil protease in both feces-applied fields in terms of the effect of inhibitors, and the bacteria, which produced serratial metalloprotease, were suggested to proliferate in both the 120 t and 600 t fields. The gene homologous to serratial metalloprotease gene was amplified in directly extracted DNA from field soils using selective DNA primer and proteolytic Serratia marcescens was certified to be one source of soil protease in these field soils. Proteolytic S. marcescens and its metalloprotease gene have occasionally been isolated and detected in field soils applied with raw feces, and have rarely been isolated or detected from other field soils. Proteolytic S. marcescens is believed to be introduced in the raw feces and subsequently colonizes the field soil and replaces the indigenous bacteria in the soil.

Livestock grazing behavior and inter- versus intraspecific disease risk via the fecal–oral route

Livestock herbivores are at risk of parasite/pathogen exposure from livestock and wild mammal feces during grazing. Livestock exposure to parasites/pathogens will be dependent on the behavioral contact processes between grazing livestock and host animal (both livestock and wild mammal) feces at the bite scale. Here we use 2 grazing experiments to determine the affect of feces from different species and in different defecation patterns on the grazing response of cattle. In experiment 1, there were 4 plots, each with 4 replicates of 5 patch treatments of different fecal contamination (240 g/m2 of Eurasian badger feces, cattle feces, fallow deer feces, Eurasian rabbit feces, and noncontaminated control patches). In experiment 2, there were 3 treatment patterns of badger fecal contamination (one 1-m2 circular patch contaminated with 960 g of badger feces; two 1-m2 circular patches each contaminated with 480 g of badger feces; and four 1-m2 circular patches each contaminated with 240 g of badger feces), divided into 2 plots per treatment. The cattle's grazing response was determined by measuring sward depletion at each of the treatment patches. In experiment 1, cattle-grazed control and rabbit fecal–contaminated patches the most, whereas badger-contaminated patches were grazed the least. In experiment 2, cattle grazed the treatment with the greatest number of fecal-contaminated patches the most. We conclude that cattle vary their grazing response to feces from different host species and to feces in different spatial patterns. Quantifying these behavioral responses to feces is a key step toward quantifying infection risk to herbivores via the fecal–oral route in grazing systems.

Agent-based modelling of foraging behaviour: the impact of spatial heterogeneity on disease risks from faeces in grazing systems

SUMMARYMany of the most pervasive disease challenges to livestock are transmitted via oral contact with faeces (or by faecal–aerosol) and the current paper focuses on how disease risk may depend on: spatial heterogeneity, animal searching behaviour, different grazing systems and faecal deposition patterns including those representative of livestock and a range of wildlife. A spatially explicit agent-based model was developed to describe the impact of empirically observed foraging and avoidance behaviours on the risk of disease presented by investigative and grazing contact with both livestock and wildlife faeces. To highlight the role of spatial heterogeneity on disease risks an analogous deterministic model, which ignores spatial heterogeneity and searching behaviour, was compared with the spatially explicit agent-based model. The models were applied to assess disease risks in temperate grazing systems. The results suggest that spatial heterogeneity is crucial in defining the disease risks to which individuals are exposed even at relatively small scales. Interestingly, however, although sensitive to other aspects of behaviour such as faecal avoidance, it was observed that disease risk is insensitive to search distance for typical domestic livestock restricted to small field plots. In contrast disease risk is highly sensitive to distributions of faecal contamination, in that contacts with highly clumped distributions of wildlife contamination are rare in comparison to those with more dispersed contamination. Finally it is argued that the model is a suitable framework to study the relative inter- and intra-specific disease risks posed to livestock under different realistic management regimes.

수입사료에 의한 가축분뇨 물질순환 및 환경부하 분석

본 연구는 수입사료가 우리나라 농업환경의 오염부하에 미치는 영향을 파악하고자 2005년을 기준년도로 하여 수입사료 품목별 수입량 및 비료성분량, 수입사료로 인한 가축 사양단계에서 비료성분 발생량을 추산하고, 농경지 작물별 재배면적과 양분요구도 분석을 통해 수입사료로 인한 농경지의 오염부하도를 분석하였다. 수입사료를 통해 국내로 도입되는 비료성분량은 질소 371천톤, 인산 140천톤, 가리 143천톤, 주요 수입품목인 곡류 및 식물성 유박류에서 유래하는 비료성분 국내도입량은 성분별로 질소 93%, 인산 89%,가리 84%를 차지하였으며, 양돈급여를 기준으로 한, 수입사료 유래 가축분뇨 중 비료성분 함량은 질소 148천톤, 인산 84천톤, 가리 86천톤으로 수입사료를 통한 국내 양분 도입량의 52%, 인산 52%, 가리 42%의 비중을 차지하였다. 가축으로부터 배설되는 비료성분 중 퇴 액비화를 통한 자원화량은 질소 81천톤, 인산 74천톤, 가리 76천톤 이었으며, 퇴 액비로 투여된 비료성분의 무기 화율을 고려한 성분별 작물유효량은 질소 44천톤, 인산 48천톤, 가리 69천톤이었다. 또한 작물에 흡수 이용되지 못하고 토양에 축적되거나 지하수 등으로 용탈되는 비료성분은 질소 37천톤, 인산 27천톤, 가리 7천톤으로 추산되었다. 총수입가축사료로 도입되는 비료성분량 질소 371천톤, 인산 140천톤, 가리 143천톤과 비교할 때, 총비료성분 도입량 대비 농경지에서 작물에 흡수되는 비료성분량은 질소 12%, 인산 34%, 가리 48% 이었으며, 농경지에 축적 유출되는 비료성분량은 질소 10%, 인산 34%, 가리 5%로 가축분뇨 처리과정에서 대기 및 수계로의 유출량 등을 고려할 때 우리나라 환경 전반에 대한 오염부하 영향을 줄 우려가 있는 것으로 나타났다. The nearly 75% of animal feed materials used for livestock production are imported every year in Korea. Most of imported feed ingredients are concentrated feeds such as com, wheat, soybean, soybean meal, etc. and they are used as the source materials for the production of assorted feed. The imported concentrated feeds are high in nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, the consistent import of feed ingredients may cause an increase of nutrient deposit in our agricultural ecosystem. In the current review, it was discussed with the situation of the feed importation and its nutritional composition to evaluate the nutrient load by the imported feeds onto agricultural ecosystem. The nutrient load caused by imported feeds in agricultural environment was compared with the nutrient demand for crop production. The amounts of N, <TEX>$P_2O_5\;and\;K_2O$</TEX> introduced by the imported fteds in Korea were 371, 140 and 143 Ktons. And, the N, <TEX>$P_2O_5\;and\;K_2O$</TEX> loads excreted from imported feeds in livestock were 148, 84 and 86 Ktons of N, <TEX>$P_2O_5\;and\;K_2O$</TEX> and These nutrient loads by the imported feeds are at the percentage of N 52%, <TEX>$P_2O_5$</TEX> 52% and <TEX>$K_2O$</TEX> 42% in the comparison of total nutrient amounts excreted from livestock animals in Korea. The 82.3% of nutrients excreted from livestock was recycled to crop land as compost and liquid fertilizer, and the others were discharged to river after water treatment processing or disposed to ocean. Also, passing through the recycling process far the production of compost and liquid fertilizer, the amount of nutrients was reduced by the ammonia vaporization of livestock feces and urine. Accordingly, N 81, <TEX>$P_2O_5$</TEX> 74 and <TEX>$K_2O$</TEX> 76 Ktons in the nutrients excreted from livestock were estimated to be utilized in the crop land. Consequently, it was estimated that 44, 48 and 69 Ktons of N, <TEX>$P_2O_5\;and\;K_2O$</TEX> were taken up with crops in the consideration of the ratio of mineralization, and the amounts of leached or deposited N, <TEX>$P_2O_5\;and\;K_2O$</TEX> in crop land were estimated to be 37, 27 and 7 Ktons, respectively. It is estimated that 12%, 34% and 48% of N, <TEX>$P_2O_5\;and\;K_2O$</TEX> introduced by the imported feeds were used by crops, and 10%, 34% and 5% of N, <TEX>$P_2O_5\;and\;K_2O$</TEX> were leached or deposited in agricultural ecosystem. Therefore, considering the leached and deposited amounts of N, <TEX>$P_2O_5\;and\;K_2O$</TEX> originated from the imported feed ingredients, the consistent import of feeds may gradually increase the nutrient load onto agricultural ecosystem.