Thermal resistance of Clostridium difficile endospores in dairy compost upon exposure to wet and dry heat treatments.

AIM: Thermal resistance of Clostridium difficile endospores in finished dairy compost was compared at 55 and 65°C under wet and dry heat conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: A three-strain cocktail of C. difficile endospores was inoculated into dairy compost to a final concentration of c. 5·5 log CFU per gram and the moisture content (MC) of the compost was adjusted to be 20, 30 and 40%. For the dry heat treatment at 55 and 65°C, the compost samples were placed in an environmental chamber, whereas for the wet heat treatment, the inoculated compost samples were placed in a tray submerged in a water bath. The MCs of composts were maintained well throughout the wet heat treatment while the dry heat treatment reduced the MCs of composts to <10% by the end of come-up time. During the come-up time, the log endospore reductions at a selected temperature were not significantly different in compost with three selected MCs, in each heat treatment. During the holding time, endospore counts reduced by <0·5 log CFU per gram at 55 and 65°C of dry heat treatment, whereas 0·7-0·8 and 0·6-3·0 log CFU per gram reductions were observed at 55 and 65°C in wet heat treatment respectively. CONCLUSION: The recommended minimum composting guidelines were not sufficient to reduce C. difficile endospore counts to an undetectable level (five endospores per gram). Increasing the temperature of thermophilic phase to 65°C, and maintaining higher MCs of composting feedstocks have significant (P < 0·05) effects on the endospore inactivation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our study identified factors that significantly affecting the thermal resistance of C. difficile endospores during composting, and the results suggest the current composting guidelines need to be amended in order to reduce the dissemination of C. difficile endospores in agricultural environment.

[Physical and chemical methods for eliminating propagules of indigenous mycorrhizal fungi from soil samples]. / Métodos físicos y químicos para la eliminación de propágulos de hongos formadores de micorrizas nativos de muestras de suelo.

The objective of this work was to evaluate methods to eliminate or reduce the number of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from soil samples without affecting their edaphic or microbiological properties. At an early trial we evaluated moist heat (autoclaving), dry heat (oven), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and formaldehyde at a range of 100.0-3.3µl/g and 16.7-3.3µl/g respectively. There was no germination in plants of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) sown on substrates receiving NaClO (100.0-33.3µl/g), whereas autoclaving significantly increased the available soil phosphorous content. Both treatments failed to eradicate AMF colonization at 9 weeks; therefore, they were discarded. In a second trial, oven and formaldehyde (10.0µl/g) treatments were analyzed to assess the effects of seed decontamination and AMF reinoculation. Both procedures were effective in reducing or eliminating indigenous AMF at a range of soil P availability of 12-29mg/kg. However, the time between soil treatment and AMF multiplication and safety requirements were greater in the case of formaldehyde application.

Métodos físicos y químicos para la eliminación de propágulos de hongos formadores de micorrizas nativos de muestras de suelo / Physical and chemical methods for eliminating propagules of indigenous mycorrhizal fungi from soil samples

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar métodos para eliminar hongos nativos formadores de micorrizas arbusculares (HMA) o reducir su número en muestras de suelo, sin afectar sus propiedades edáficas y microbiológicas. Se estudió la aplicación de calor húmedo (autoclave), de calor seco (estufa), de hipoclorito de sodio (NaClO) y de formaldehído, en concentraciones entre 100,0 y 3,3 µl/g y 16,7 y 3,3 µl/g, respectivamente. Las semillas de raigrás (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) sembradas en sustratos que recibieron NaClO (100,0-33,3 µl/g) no germinaron y el autoclave incrementó el contenido de fósforo en el sustrato. Estos tratamientos no eliminaron la micorrización por HMA y ambos fueron descartados. En un segundo ensayo se analizaron los tratamientos estufa y formaldehído (10,0 µl/g), asociados o no a la descontaminación de las semillas y a la reinoculación con HMA. Ambos procedimientos redujeron o eliminaron la micorrización por HMA nativos en suelos con 12 a 29 mg/kg de fósforo y permitieron la multiplicación de inóculos de HMA. El tiempo de ventilación de las muestras y los requisitos de seguridad fueron mayores con la aplicación de formaldehído

The objective of this work was to evaluate methods to eliminate or reduce the number of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from soil samples without affecting their edaphic or microbiological properties. At an early trial we evaluated moist heat (autoclaving), dry heat (oven), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and formaldehyde at a range of 100.0-3.3 µl/g and 16.7-3.3 µl/g respectively. There was no germination in plants of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) sown on substrates receiving NaClO (100.0-33.3 ul/g), whereas autoclaving significantly increased the available soil phosphorous content. Both treatments failed to eradicate AMF colonization at 9 weeks; therefore, they were discarded. In a second trial, oven and formaldehyde (10.0 µl/g) treatments were analyzed to assess the effects of seed decontamination and AMF reinoculation. Both procedures were effective in reducing or eliminating indigenous AMF at a range of soil P availability of 12-29 mg/kg. However, the time between soil treatment and AMF multiplication and safety requirements were greater in the case of formaldehyde application