Characterization of Microbial Community in the Leachate Associated with the Decomposition of Entombed Pigs

Abstract

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is one of the acute infectious diseases in hoofed and even-toed mammals, including pigs, and it occurs via acute infection by Aphthovirus. When FMD is suspected, animals around the location of origin are typically slaughtered and buried. Other methods such as rendering, composting, and incineration have not been verified in practice in Korea. After the FMD incident, the regular monitoring of the microbial community is required, as microorganisms greatly modify the characteristics of the ecosystem in which they live. This is the result of their metabolic activities causing chemical changes to take place in the surrounding environment. In this study, we investigated changes in the microbial community during a 24 week period with DNA extracts from leachate, formed by the decomposition of buried pigs at a laboratory test site, using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) with a genomic DNA. Our results revealed that Bacteroides coprosuis, which is common in pig excreta, and Sporanaerobacter acetigenes, which is a sulfur-reduced microbe, were continuously observed. During the early stages (0~2 weeks) of tissue decomposition, Clostridium cochlearium, Fusobacterium ulcerans, and Fusobacterium sp., which are involved in skin decomposition, were also observed. In addition, various microbes such as Turicibacter sanguinis, Clostridium haemolyticum, Bacteroides propionicifaciens, and Comamonas sp. were seen during the later stages (16~24 weeks). In particular, the number of existing microbial species gradually increased during the early stages, including the exponential phase, decreased during the middle stages, and then increased again during the later stages. Therefore, these results indicate that the decomposition of pigs continues for a long period of time and leachate is created continuously during this process. It is known that leachate can easily flow into the neighboring environment, so a long-term management plan is needed in burial locations for FMD-infected animals.

On the phase behaviour of polyethoxylated sorbitan (Tween) surfactants in the presence of potassium inorganic salts

“…Traditionally, this solvation capacity was qualitatively analysed in terms of chaotropicity or kosmotropicity, depending on the ability of the salts and surfactants to interact with water molecules. The obtained sequence validates the salting out potential predicted by the Hofmeister series [15] and it is also corroborated by what is expected from the Gibbs energy of hydration [16]. The values for the different anions are listed in , further confirming that trivalent anions present more interplays with water molecules than divalent anions.…”

Triton X surfactants to form aqueous biphasic systems: Experiment and correlation

“…With a high charge density, a kosmotropic ion interacts more strongly with water than water with itself and tends to increase the water structure by shifting the water equilibrium to low-density water. The situation is reversed in the case of a chaotropic ion [14].…”

Genetic Determinants of the Gut Microbiome in UK Twins

“…Turicibacter has been isolated from blood of human patients, and analysis of its genome reveals genes consistent with a pathobiont lifestyle (Cuív et al, 2011). Oddly, Turicibacter has also been noted as highly abundant at later stages of dead pig decomposition (Yang et al, 2012). Turicibacter thus appears to be a pathobiont with the genes necessary to exploit host inflammation and that can also subsist on the host after death.…”