Proceedings

Optimization of the detection of Clostridium botulinum in pig and cattle manures and in digestates from on-farm biogas plants

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Abstract

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a sustainable technology for converting livestock manure into biogas. A raise in the number of agricultural biogas plants (BGP) has been observed recently in several European countries. The fate of pathogens, in particular Clostridium botulinum (Cb) during AD and the sanitary risks through spreading on land appears to be a matter of public health concern. Asymptomatic carriage of Cb has in fact been demonstrated in fecal contents of cattle and pigs [1, 2]. Clostridia being spore-forming anaerobic bacteria, their ability to form spores confers them a high resistance to environmental conditions, while their ability to grow under mesophilic anaerobic conditions raises the question of their future and the potential for their multiplication during AD. Proliferation and environmental contamination through digestate spreading on lands when using manures that may contain Cb for AD have been hypothesized [3, 4]. A first study conducted to address this topic using laboratory-scale digester invalidated this hypothesis [5]. Further studies including field investigations are now required.

How to Cite:

Pourcher, A., Druilhe, C., Le Maréchal, C., Denis, M., Rouxel, S. & Poëzevara, T., (2019) “Optimization of the detection of Clostridium botulinum in pig and cattle manures and in digestates from on-farm biogas plants”, SafePork 13(1), 140–141. doi: https://doi.org//safepork.11393