Survival of indicator organisms in Sonoran Desert soil amended with sewage sludge

Pepper, Ian L.; Josephson, Karen L.; Bailey, Rachel L.; Burr, Mark D.; Gerba, Charles P.

doi:10.1080/10934529309375943

Cited by 30 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It is possible that following biosolids land application, the lack of selective pressures for antibiotic resistance may cause the loss of the plasmid carrying the resistant genes and, hence, may lead to lower overall antibiotic-resistant bacterial recovery (Smith and Bidochka 1998). Furthermore, the overall loss of bacterial viability following biosolids land application may have contributed to any noted decreases (Pepper et al 1993;Zaleski et al 2005); however, all differences were statistically irrelevant. No increase in ARB concentrations or percentages was noted throughout the study period, particularly, during the first 14 days following application, suggesting that an immediate dilution effect of any biosolids-borne antibiotic-resistant organisms may be the cause.…”

Section: Fig 2 Heterotrophic Plate Count (Hpc) and Antibiotic-resismentioning

confidence: 78%

Occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and endotoxin associated with the land application of biosolids

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and endotoxin in soil after land application of biosolids. Soil was collected over a 15 month period following land application of biosolids, and antibiotic resistance was ascertained using clinically relevant antibiotic concentrations. Ampicillin, cephalothin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline resistance were all monitored separately for any changes throughout the 15 month period. Endotoxin soil concentrations were monitored using commercially available endotoxin analysis reagents. Overall, land application of biosolids did not increase the percentage of antibiotic-resistant culturable bacteria above background soil levels. Likewise, land application of biosolids did not significantly increase the concentration of endotoxin in soil. This study determined and established a baseline understanding of the overall effect that land application of biosolids had on the land-applied field with respect to antibiotic-resistant bacterial and endotoxin soil densities.

show abstract

Section: Fig 2 Heterotrophic Plate Count (Hpc) and Antibiotic-resismentioning

confidence: 78%

Occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and endotoxin associated with the land application of biosolids

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Salmonellae were not able to survive and regrow in biosolids alone or in a soil environment, even when conditions of moisture and temperature were favorable for growth. Experiments were also done in fine-textured soil, which has been shown to provide more protection for organisms than coarse-textured soils (14), and the Salmonella organisms still could not survive or regrow in this environment. The death of salmonellae in this environment may be due to the presence of high levels of coliforms in the biosolids or indigenous soil organisms which survived and regrew biosolids and biosolidamended soil.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many laboratory studies have been conducted in the past, focusing on survival and potential growth of inoculated organisms in sterile and nonsterile biosolids and compost (2,10,15,18,27). Regrowth of inoculated salmonellae in sterile biosolids is commonly documented, but few studies have documented survival and regrowth of indigenous pathogens in biosolids after levels have decreased below levels of detection (8,11,14,16). Due to limited available data regarding regrowth of salmonellae in biosolids used for land application, there are conflicting views on this topic.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Regrowth and Recolonization of Salmonellae and Indicators in Biosolids and Biosolid-Amended Soil

Zaleski

Josephson

Gerba

et al. 2005

Appl Environ Microbiol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study evaluated the potential for conversion of Class B to Class A biosolids with respect to salmonellae and fecal coliforms during solar drying in concrete lined drying beds. Anaerobically (8% solids) and aerobically (2% solids) digested Class B biosolids were pumped into field-scale drying beds, and microbial populations and environmental conditions were monitored. Numbers of fecal coliforms and salmonellae decreased as temperature and rate of desiccation increased. After 3 to 4 weeks, Class A requirements were achieved in both biosolids for the pathogens and the indicators. However, following rainfall events, significant increase in numbers was observed for both fecal coliforms and salmonellae. In laboratory studies, regrowth of fecal coliforms was observed in both biosolids and biosolid-amended soil, but the regrowth of salmonellae observed in the concrete-lined drying beds did not occur. These laboratory studies demonstrated that pathogens decreased in numbers when soil was amended with biosolids. Based on serotyping, the increased numbers of salmonellae seen in the concrete lined drying beds following rainfall events was most likely due to recolonization due to contamination from fecal matter introduced by animals and not from regrowth of salmonellae indigenous to biosolids. Overall, we conclude that the use of concrete-lined beds created a situation in which moisture added as rainfall accumulated in the beds, promoting the growth of fecal coliforms and salmonellae added from external sources.

show abstract

“…Since one of the primary hazards associated with biosolids is the accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms, public concern regarding the potential exposure of the human population to the sludge derived microbial pathogens is becoming common. Though there have been numerous studies and reports on pathogen survival in agricultural lands and waterways associated with biosolids (Hill et al, 1993, Pepper et al, 1993 there is only limited published information on the occurrence of airborne microbial pathogens being generated from land application programs (Pillai et al, 1996;Jakubowski 1985).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Identifying the sources of biosolid derived pathogen indicator organisms in aerosols by ribosomal DNA fingerprinting

Dowd

Pillai

1999

Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The application of the nbosomal DNA (rDNA) fingerprinting method to identify the sources of aerosolized clostridia isolates at a commercial biosolid land application site is being reported. Clostridia isolates were initially isolated from aerosol samples as well as from biosolid piles on the ground. Oligonucleotide primers, specific to the bacterial 16S-23S interspacer region were employed in gene amplification reactions to amplify the region. For those isolates that generated similar sized amplification products, the products were digested with the HindIII restriction endonuclease to determine genetic differences. Using this approach, it was possible to genetically link DOWD AND PILLAI some of the aerosol isolates to the biosolid piles. The results suggest that for tracking the sources of aerosolized clostridia, it would be necessary to amplify the 16S-23S region, and if necessary, followed by restriction enzyme analyses of the product. The region, and if necessary, followed by restriction enzyme analyses of the product. The need for restriction enzyme analyses would be necessary only if the isolates in question had amplification products of similar sizes.

show abstract

Survival of indicator organisms in Sonoran Desert soil amended with sewage sludge

Cited by 30 publications

References 9 publications

Occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and endotoxin associated with the land application of biosolids

Occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and endotoxin associated with the land application of biosolids

Potential Regrowth and Recolonization of Salmonellae and Indicators in Biosolids and Biosolid-Amended Soil

Identifying the sources of biosolid derived pathogen indicator organisms in aerosols by ribosomal DNA fingerprinting

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About