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Current microbiology2009; 60(1); 38-41; doi: 10.1007/s00284-009-9497-5

Viability of Rhodococcus equi and Parascaris equorum eggs exposed to high temperatures.

Abstract: There is great concern about the potential pathogen contamination of horse manure compost spread in the same fields horses graze in. To ensure that pathogen destruction occurs, temperatures need to be sufficiently high during composting. Here, we investigated the survival rate of two marker organisms, Rhodococcus equi and Parascaris equorum eggs, exposed to temperatures potentially encountered during horse manure composting. Our results show that the time required to achieve a 1 log10 reduction in R. equi population (D-value) are 17.1 h (+/-1.47) at 45 degrees C, 8.6 h (+/-0.28) at 50 degrees C, 2.9 h (+/-0.04) at 55 degrees C and 0.7 h (+/-0.04) at 60 degrees C. For P. equorum eggs we show that at 45 and 50 degrees C, 2 log10 reduction of viability is reached between 8 and 24 h of incubation and that it takes less than 2 h at 55 and 60 degrees C to achieve a viability reduction of 2 log10. These results are useful for identifying composting conditions that will reduce the risk of environmental contamination by R. equi and P. equorum eggs.
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Publication Date: 2009-09-01 PubMed ID: 19727941DOI: 10.1007/s00284-009-9497-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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This research study examines the impact of high temperatures on the survival rate of Rhodococcus equi and Parascaris equorum eggs, organisms commonly found in horse manure compost. The findings indicate that increased temperatures, achievable through the composting process, significantly reduce the presence and viability of these organisms, thus limiting the risk of pathogen contamination in grazing fields.

Investigating Viability of Pathogen in Compost

  • The study was conducted to address concerns regarding potential pathogen contamination from horse manure compost used in horse grazing fields.
  • Two marker organisms were selected for this study: Rhodococcus equi, a bacterium that causes a severe pneumonia in young foals, and Parascaris equorum, a roundworm common in horses.
  • The researchers investigated the survival rate of these organisms when exposed to high temperatures, such as those encountered during the composting process.

The Impact of Temperature on Pathogen Survival

  • The time required to achieve a 1 log10 reduction in R. equi population, also known as the D-value, was determined at various temperatures.
  • At 45 degrees Celsius, the D-value was approximately 17.1 hours, while at 50, 55 and 60 degrees Celsius, D-values progressively decreased to 8.6, 2.9, and 0.7 hours respectively, indicating a decline in R. equi population with increased temperature.
  • For P. equorum eggs, a 2 log10 reduction of viability was reached between 8 and 24 hours of incubation at 45 and 50 degrees Celsius.
  • At higher temperatures of 55 and 60 degrees Celsius, it took less than 2 hours to achieve a similar reduction in viability.

Implications for Composting Process

  • The results demonstrate that increasing composting temperatures can significantly reduce the presence and viability of both R. equi bacteria and P. equorum eggs.
  • This suggests that maintaining high temperatures during the composting process effectively eliminates these pathogenic organisms.
  • Such information is useful in identifying optimal composting conditions that will reduce the risk of environmental contamination by these pathogens in horse grazing fields.

Cite This Article

APA
Hébert L, Cauchard J, Doligez P, Quitard L, Laugier C, Petry S. (2009). Viability of Rhodococcus equi and Parascaris equorum eggs exposed to high temperatures. Curr Microbiol, 60(1), 38-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-009-9497-5

Publication

Current microbiology
ISSN: 1432-0991
NlmUniqueID: 7808448
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 60
Issue: 1
Pages: 38-41

Researcher Affiliations

Hébert, Laurent
  • AFSSA, Laboratoire d'Etudes et de Recherches en Pathologie Equine, IPC, Goustranville, Dozulé, France. l.hebert@afssa.fr
Cauchard, Julien
    Doligez, Pauline
      Quitard, Lola
        Laugier, Claire
          Petry, Sandrine

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Ascaridoidea
            • Eggs
            • Horses / microbiology
            • Horses / parasitology
            • Hot Temperature
            • Infection Control
            • Manure / microbiology
            • Manure / parasitology
            • Microbial Viability
            • Rhodococcus equi

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            Citations

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