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Effects of sugarcane juice addition on the population dynamics of Escherichia coli and the presence of Shiga-toxigenic E. coli during the anaerobic codigestion of dairy cattle manure

Efeito da adição de caldo de cana-de-açúcar na dinâmica da população de Escherichia coli e presença de E. coli shigatoxigênicas durante a codigestão anaeróbia de dejetos bovinos leiteiros

ABSTRACT:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the addition of sugarcane juice on the population dynamics of Escherichia coli and the presence of Shiga-toxigenic E. coli (STEC) during the anaerobic codigestion of dairy cattle manure. For the overall analyses at the end of a hydraulic retention time of 90 days, ten two-liter batch-type biodigesters were divided into two treatment groups: biodigester containing manure and water (MW) and the biodigester containing manure, water and sugarcane juice (MSC). For monitoring the population dynamics and presence of microorganisms, pH, and volatile acidity, tests were carried out every ten days, on 36 smaller-scale batch biodigesters made of one-liter plastic bottles (18 for each treatment). The reductions in E. coli population over time were significant in the MW (60 days) and MSC (20 days) biodigesters. Inactivation of STEC occurred in a shorter period (40 days in MW and <10 days in MSC). Significant differences were obtained between the two treatments, with the pH values being lower, the concentrations of volatile acids (VA) being higher, and the inactivation of E. coli and STEC being faster in the biodigester with sugarcane juice added. The amount of sugarcane juice applied (7%) suggests its suitability for the sanitization of dairy cattle manure for use as a biofertilizer, given the high reduction in the E. coli population and inactivation of STEC.

Key words:
biodigestion anaerobic; environmental sustainability; pathogenic microorganisms; manure treatment

RESUMO:

O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da adição de caldo de cana-de-açúcar sobre a dinâmica da população de Escherichia coli e presença de E. coli shigatogixênicas (STEC) no processo de codigestão anaeróbia de dejetos de bovinos leiteiros. Foram utilizados dez biodigestores bateladas divididos em dois tratamentos, dejeto sem caldo de cana-de-açúcar (DSC) e dejeto com caldo (DCC), com tempo de retenção hidráulica (TRH) de 90 dias. Para o monitoramento periódico da dinâmica da população E. coli e presença de E. coli shigatoxigenicas, do pH e da acidez volátil, realizados a cada dez dias, foram abastecidos mais 36 biodigestores bateladas, construídos de garrafas de material plástico de um litro, sendo 18 unidades para cada tratamento. A redução das populações de E. coli no decorrer do tempo foi significativa no DSC (60 dias) e no DCC (20 dias). A inativação de E. coli shigatoxigênicas ocorreu em um período mais curto, 40 dias no DSC e menos de 10 dias no DCC. Foram obtidas diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos para os valores de pH, que foram menores, e as concentrações de ácidos voláteis, que foram maiores, com adição de caldo e contribuíram para a inativação mais rápida da E. coli e STEC. A dose de caldo de cana-de-açúcar utilizada (7%) sugere a adequada sanitização do dejeto bovino leiteiro, tendo em vista a alta redução na população de E. coli e a inativação de STEC.

Palavras-chave:
biodigestão anaróbia; micro-organismos patogênicos; sustentabilidade ambiental; tratamento de dejetos

INTRODUCTION:

The deposition of natural manure in the soil can transfer pathogenic microorganisms to the food chain (NICHOLSON et al., 2005NICHOLSON, F. A. et al. Pathogen survival during livestock manure storage and following land application. Bioresource Technology, v. 96, n. 2, p. 135-143, Jan. 2005. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852404001087>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2004.02.030.
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) and contaminate water resources (AVERY et al., 2004AVERY, S. M. et al. Fate of Escherichia coli originating from livestock feces deposited directly onto pasture. Letters in Applied Microbiology, v. 38, n. 5, p. 355-359, 2004. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.147 2-7 65X.2004.01501.x/abstract>. Accessed: Mai. 19, 2017 . doi: 10.1111/j.147 2-7 65X.2004.01501.x
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), since cattle manure may contain more than 150 pathogens that could endanger human, animal, and environmental health (GERBA; SMITH, 2005GERBA, C. P.; SMITH JR., J. E. Sources of pathogenic microorganisms and their fate during land application of wastes. Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 34, n. 1, p. 42-48, Jan./Feb. 2005.).

Escherichia coli, which is ubiquitous in the environment, is considered a global indicator of fecal pollution. Some strains have acquired genes that make them capable of causing intestinal or extraintestinal diseases; for example, Shiga-toxigenic E. coli (STEC) strains, which produce at least one type of shigatoxin (stx 1 orstx 2) (KAPER et al., 2004KAPER, J. B. et al. Pathogenic Escherichia coli. Nat. Rev. Microbiol., v. 2, n. 2, p. 123-140, Fev. 2004. Available from: http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v2/n2/full/nrmicro818.html>. Accessed: Mai. 18, 2017 . doi: 10.1038/nrmicro818.
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; GYLES; FAIRBROTHER, 2010GYLES, C. L.; FAIRBROTHER, J. M. Escherichia coli. In: GYLES, C. L.; PRESCOTT, J. F.; SONGER, G.; THOEN, C. O. Pathogenesis of bacterial infections in animals. 4ed. New York: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. p. 267 -308.). Ruminants, especially cattle, are important reservoirs of these microorganisms. The occurrence of STEC in Brazil was reviewed by Caldorin et al. (2013CALDORIN, M. et al. Occurrence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Brazil and its public health importance. Boletim Epidemiológico Paulista, São Paulo, v. 10, n. 110, p. 4-20, Fev. 2013.), who observed a variation of 5.2-82% in feces from dairy cattle.

In addition to the environmental benefits caused by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (ORZI et al., 2010ORZI, V. et al. Potential odour emission measurement in organic fraction of municipal solid waste during anaerobic digestion: relationship with process and biological stability parameters. Bioresource Technology, v. 101, n. 19, p. 7 330-7 337 , Out. 2010. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852410008102>. Accessed: Mai. 21, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.04.098.
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), the use of anaerobic biodigestion for the treatment of animal manure has been a great ally in reducing the impact generated by pathogenic microorganisms (SAHLSTRÖM et al., 2008SAHLSTRÖM, L. et al. A laboratory study of survival of selected microorganisms after heat treatment of biowaste used in biogas plants. Bioresource Technology, v. 99, n. 16, p. 7859-7865, Nov. 2008. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852407 008164>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2007.09.071.
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).

With the objectives of maximizing the production of biogas (ORRICO et al., 2016ORRICO, A. C. A. et al. Anaerobic co-digestion of dairy cattle manure and waste. Journal of the Brazilian Association of Agricultural Engineering, Jaboticabal, v. 36, n. 3, p. 537 -545, Mai./Jun. 2016. Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/eagri/v36n3/1809-4430-eagri-36-3-0537.pdf>. Accessed: Mai. 17 , 2017 . doi: 10.1590/1809-4430.
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; XAVIER et al., 2016XAVIER, C. A. N. et al. Anaerobic digestion of dairy cow manure: diet and sugar cane broth addition effect. Archivos de Zootecnia, v. 65, n. 250, p. 131-138, Jun. 2016.) and also decreasing the retention time of substrates (ORRICO et al., 2016ORRICO, A. C. A. et al. Anaerobic co-digestion of dairy cattle manure and waste. Journal of the Brazilian Association of Agricultural Engineering, Jaboticabal, v. 36, n. 3, p. 537 -545, Mai./Jun. 2016. Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/eagri/v36n3/1809-4430-eagri-36-3-0537.pdf>. Accessed: Mai. 17 , 2017 . doi: 10.1590/1809-4430.
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), some authors have investigated the codigestion and the association of manures with other residues, such as sugarcane juice (XAVIER et al., 2016GERBA, C. P.; SMITH JR., J. E. Sources of pathogenic microorganisms and their fate during land application of wastes. Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 34, n. 1, p. 42-48, Jan./Feb. 2005.).

Conversely, sugarcane juice provides a more acidic medium, which may favor the inactivation of bacteria (SUNG; LIU, 2003SUNG, S.; LIU, T. Ammonia inhibition on thermophilic anaerobic digestion. Chemosphere, v. 53, n. 1, p. 43-52, Out. 2003. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004565350300434X>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00434-X.
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). According to Sung and Liu (2003SUNG, S.; LIU, T. Ammonia inhibition on thermophilic anaerobic digestion. Chemosphere, v. 53, n. 1, p. 43-52, Out. 2003. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004565350300434X>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00434-X.
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), Sahlström (2003SAHLSTRÖM, L. A review of survival of pathogenic bacteria in organic waste used in biogas plants. Bioresource Technology, v. 87 , n. 2, p. 161-166, Abr. 2003. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852402001682>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/S0960-8524(02)00168-2.
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), and Kunte et al. (2004KUNTE, D. P. et al. Two-stage anaerobic digestion process for complete inactivation of enteric bacterial pathogens in human night soil. Water Science and Technology., v. 50, n. 6, p. 103-108, Set. 2004.), high concentrations of VA combined with an acidic pH are responsible for the reduction of pathogens in the mesophilic biodigestion process.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of the addition of sugarcane juice on the dynamics of Escherichia coli population and the presence of STEC strains in dairy cow manure being processed by anaerobic codigestion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

For this study, batch biodigesters with an approximate capacity for 2L of fermentation substrate were used, with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 90 days. The ten biodigesters were divided into two treatments of five replicates each, designated manure without sugarcane juice (MW) and manure with sugarcane juice (MSC). Samples were taken from both manures at the end of the HRT (T90) to perform all analyses.

To follow the dynamics of the E. coli population, the presence of STEC, and the pH and volatile acidity from T10 to T80, 36 batch biodigesters were produced on a smaller scale, using plastic bottles with a volume of 1L. Thus, at every ten days, two new bottles were used for the analyses, totaling 18 batch units for each treatment.

The substrates were prepared to contain 6% of total solids (TS) and 7% of sugarcane juice. The MW substrate was composed of 32.4L of water and 16.2Kg of dairy cattle manure, having 5.18% of TS and 4.22% of volatile solids (VS) and a pH value of 6.21. The MSC substrate was composed of 28.998L of water, 16.2Kg of dairy cattle manure, and 3.402L of sugarcane juice, having 5.36% of TS and 4.26% of VS and a pH of 6.07.

For the microbiological analysis, E. coli counts were determined by the spread plate method (samples diluted from 10-1 to 10-6) on Violet Red Bile Agar containing 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-glucuronide, with incubation at 35°C for 24 hours. Red colonies with fluorescence under ultraviolet light were considered positive for E. coli (APHA, 2001). APHA - AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION. 2001. Committee on Microbiological for Foods. Compendium of methods for the microbiological examination of foods. 4 ed. APHA. Washington.

According to the criterion described by Sutton (2011SUTTON, C. Accuracy of Plate Counts. Journal Validation Technology, v. 17 , n. 3, p. 42-46, 2011. ), if no colony was detected on the plate, then the count was considered to be lower than the detection limit of the technique and the respective HRT was considered as the survival time of E. coli. In the present study, the limit of detection was 102 CFU mL-1.

The identification of STEC was performed in duplicate for each sample. The presence of stx 1, stx 2, and eae genes was determined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using specific oligonucleotide primers (CHINA et al., 1996CHINA, B. et al. Typing of bovine attaching and effacing Escherichia coli by multiplex in vitro amplification of virulence-associated genes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Washington, v. 62, n. 9, p. 3462-3465, Set. 1996.).

DNA extraction from total bacterial cultures in Brain Heart Infusion broth was performed by thermal lysis, by heating the cell suspension to 100°C. The amplification reaction mixture for each gene was composed of 1× buffer (20mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.4, and 50mM KCl), 2mM MgCl2, 0,2mM dNTPs, 1U of Taq DNA polymerase, 5pmol of each primer, 2µL of genomic DNA, and sterile pure water to make up a 20µL volume. The reactions were carried out in a thermocycler, programmed as follows: 95°C for 3 min; 35 cycles of 94°C for 30s, 55°C for 30s, and 72°C for 30s; and a final cycle of 72°C for 10min. The DNA of E. coli strain EcL 6611 was used as a positive control, whereas the negative control was a reagent mix tube without DNA. The PCR products were visualized by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis in 1× TBE buffer (89mM Tris, 89mMboric acid, and 2.5mM EDTA).

The pH readings of the affluents and effluents of the biodigestion systems were determined according to the method described by the APHA (2012APHA - AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION. 2012. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 22nd ed. APHA. Washington.). Volatile acid determination was performed by titration, as described by Dilallo and Albertson (1961DILALLO, R.; ALBERTON, O. E. Volatile acids by direct titration. Journal Water Pollution Control Federation, v. 33, n. 4, p. 356-356, Abr. 1961.).

Before statistical analysis, the data were analyzed by the Shapiro-Wilks normality test. If normal, a parametric test was used, and if not, a nonparametric test was used. The variation of the E. coli population over time was compared by linear regression analysis. For comparison of the pH values in the MW and MSC treatments, the Wilcoxon test was used. For the concentrations of volatile acids, the paired t-test for comparison of averages was performed (SIQUEIRA; TIBÚRCIO, 2011SIQUEIRA, A. L.; TIBÚRCIO, J. D. Estatística na área da saúde: conceitos, metodologia, aplicações e prática computacional. 538p. Belo Horizonte: Coopmed, 2011.).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The survival time of E. coli in the sugarcane juice treated biodigester was 20 days. In the MW biodigester, no E. coli colonies were observed at 60, 70, and 80 days. However, this microorganism was detected again within 90 days of the biodigestion process although in a smaller number than that at the start of the treatment (Table 1).

Table 1
Dynamics the E. coli population (CFU), hydrogenation potential values (pH) e volatile acids (VA), during the 90-day biodigestion period.

The absence of E. coli in the treated biodigesters may have been due to the limit of detection of the technique, or to stress caused to the microorganism during biodigestion that led to it being non-cultivable. Under certain conditions, the microorganism could recover and be detected again (HIGGINS et al., 2007HIGGINS, M. J. et al. Reactivation and growth of non-culturable indicator bacteria in anaerobically digested biosolids after centrifuge dewatering. Water Research, v. 41, n. 3, p. 665-673, 2007 . Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135406005161>. Accessed: Set. 12, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2006.09.017
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).

The decrease in the E. coli population over time was significant for both MW (P<0.01) and MSC (P<0.05) treatments (Table 1). It is worth mentioning that the 3 log reduction obtained at 60 and 20 days of HRT in the MW and MSC biodigesters, respectively (Table 1), is important in order to minimize the risk of dissemination of soil pathogens if the effluent is used as a biofertilizer (HUTCHISON et al., 2004HUTCHISON, M. L. et al. Levels of zoonotic agents in British livestock manures. Letters in Applied Microbiology , v. 39, n. 2, p. 207-214, Ago. 2004. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.147 2-7 65X.2004.01564.x/abstract>. Accessed: Mai. 15, 2017 . doi: 10.1111/j.147 2-7 65X.2004.01564.x.
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).

The reduction of E. coli populations in this study was greater than that reported by Lang and Smith (2008LANG, N. L.; SMITH, S. R. Time and temperature inactivation kinetics of enteric bacteria relevant to sewage sludge treatment processes for agricultural use. Water Research , v. 42, n. 8-9, p. 2229-2241, Abr. 2008. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135407007336>. Accessed: Mai. 21, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2007 .12.001.
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), who obtained a 1-2 log decrease from the anaerobic mesophilic digestion of a sewage sample. Pandey and Soupir (2011PANDEY, P. K.; SOUPIR, M. L. Escherichia coli inactivation kinetics in anaerobic digestion of dairy manure under moderate, mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures. AMB Express, v. 1, n. 18, p. 1-10, Jul. 2011. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222320/pdf/2191-0855-1-18.pdf>. Accessed: Mai. 21, 2017 . doi: 10.1186/2191-0855-1-18.
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) and Manyi-Loh et al. (2014) MANYI-LOH, C. E. et al. Inactivation of Selected Bacterial Pathogens in Dairy Cattle Manure by Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion (Balloon Type Digester). International Journal of Environmental Research Public Health, v. 11, n. 7 , p. 7 184-7 194, Jul. 2014. Available from: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/7/7184>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.3390/ijerph110707184.
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obtained E. coli population decreases of 1log after 7-8 days and 1-2 log after 62 days, respectively, in the anaerobic mesophilic biodigestion of dairy cattle feces.

The bacterial colonies from the MW and MSC affluent showed amplification of stx 2 and eae genes. In the MW biodigester, STEC was detected in the effluent for up to 40 days, but was only detected in the affluent of the MSC system. In both types of biodigesters, colonies from the STEC group were not detected after 90 days (Figure 1).

Figure 1
- PCR amplification products of the stx2 and eae genes, of 807 and 570bp, respectively. 1T0 to 1T90 (MW) and 2T0 to 2T90 (MSC) during the 90 days of experiment. PM: 1Kb plus molecular size standard (Invitrogen). CP: positive control. CN: negative control

In the MSC biodigester, the time taken to inactivate STEC was shorter than that taken to reduce the E. coli population (Table 1), indicating that commensal E. coli remained active for a longer period. Gonçalves and Marin (2007GONÇALVES, V. P.; MARIN, J. M. Fate of non O157 Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli in composted cattle manure. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia , Belo Horizonte, v. 59, n. 4, p. 825-831, 2007 . Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-09352007 000400001>. Accessed: Mai. 25, 2017 . doi: 10.1590/S0102-09352007 000400001.
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) also verified the longer survival of E. coli (120 days) than of STEC (4-30 days) in the anaerobic treatment of dairy cattle manure.

Kudva et al. (1998KUDVA, I. T. et al. Analysis of Escherichia coli O157 :H7 survival in ovine or bovine manure and manure slurry. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, v. 64, n. 9, p. 3166-317 4, Set. 1998.) showed that, at 23°C, a negative toxin strain of E. coli O157:H7 survived longer than the positive toxin strain. Van Elsas et al. (2011)VAN ELSAS, J. D. et al. Survival of Escherichia coliin the environment: fundamental and public health aspects. ISME Journal, v. 5, n. 2, p. 17 3-183, Fev. 2011. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC31057 02/>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1038/ismej.2010.80.
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stated that this difference in survival time may be related to the fact that pathogenic E. coli strains require more energy to produce toxins, which compromises their survival capacity.

Whereas Andrade et al. (2012ANDRADE, G. I. et al. Identification of virulence factors by multiplex PCR in Escherichia coli isolated from calves in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Tropical Animal Health and Production, v. 44, n. 7 , p. 17 83-17 90, Out. 2012. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007 /s11250-012-0139-8>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1007/s11250-012-0139-8.
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) have shown a higher expression of gene stx 1 than of stx 2 in dairy calves in Minas Gerais State, the same was not verified by Carvalho et al. (2012CARVALHO, A. F. et al. Molecular and phenotypic characterization of shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) non-O157 strains from bovine feces and carcass. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Belo Horizonte, v. 64, n. 4, p. 881-886, Ago. 2012. Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S0102-09352012000400014&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=pt>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1590/S0102-09352012000400014.
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), Vicente et al. (2010VICENTE, H. I. G. et al. Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli detected in dairy cattle feces. Arquivos do Instituto Biológico, São Paulo, v. 7 7 , n. 4, p. 567 -57 3, out./dez., 2010.), and Irino et al. (2005IRINO, K. et al. Serotypes and virulence markers of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from dairy cattle in São Paulo State, Brazil. Veterinary Microbiology , v. 105, n. 1, p. 29-36, Jan. 2005. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037 8113504003165>. Accessed: Mai. 18, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2004.08.007 .
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), who observed the opposite gene expression trend in dairy cattle manure. These latter studies corroborate the results of our present study, where the presence of gene stx 1 was not detected in both biodigester treatments.

STEC survive for considerable periods in animal feces and can thus contaminate the soil. Fukushima et al. (1999FUKUSHIMA, H. et al. Long-term survival of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26, O111, and O157 in bovine feces. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, v. 65, n. 11, p. 517 7 -5181, Nov. 1999.) and Duffy (2003DUFFY, G. Verocytoxigenic Escherichia coli in animal faeces, manures and slurries. Journal of Applied Microbiology, v. 94, n. 1, p. 94-103, Abr. 2003. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-267 2.94.s1.11.x/pdf>. Accessed: Mai. 20, 2017 . doi: 10.1046/j.1365-267 2.94.s1.11.x.
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) have verified the long survival periods of serotypes O157:H7 (49-126 days) and O26:H11 (112 days) and serogroup O111 (70 days). By reaching the soil, these microorganisms can be viable for a period sufficient to contaminate food and water. MUKHERJEE et al. (2006MUKHERJEE, A. et al. Soil survival of Escherichia coli O157 :H7 acquired by a child from garden soil recently fertilized with cattle manure. Journal of Applied Microbiology , v. 101, n. 2, p. 429-436, Ago. 2006. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-267 2.2006.02913.x/abstract>. Accessed: Mai. 17, 2017 . doi: 10.1111/j.1365-267 2.2006.02913.x.
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) observed the survival of this microorganism for more than 92 days in garden soil, and Islam et al. (2004ISLAM, M. et al. Persistence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 :H7 in soil and on leaf lettuce and parsley grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water. Journal of Food Protection., v. 67 , n. 7 , p. 1365-137 0, Jul. 2004.) verified a viability of 154-217 days in cultivated soils, both contaminated by animal feces.

Thus, anaerobic digestion represents an important tool for sanitizing effluents, as it is an ecological strategy, can significantly reduce pathogenic E. coli, is not expensive, and is easily applicable in rural areas (FREMAUX et al., 2008FREMAUX, B. et al. Long-term survival of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in cattle effluents and environment: An updated review. Veterinary Microbiology, v. 132, n. 1-2, p. 1-18, Nov. 2008. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378113508001995>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.05.015.
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).

With regard to the VA and pH, significant differences were obtained (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) between the MW and MSC treatments (Table 1), with the changes in the sugarcane juice-added process contributing to the rapid inactivation of E. coli. The pH variation in the effluents during the biodigestion process ranged from 5.35 to 6.91 and from 4.59 to 6.07 in the MW and MSC treatments, respectively (Table 1 and Figure 2).

Figure 2
Escherichia coli counts (CFU mL-1) and hydrogenation potential values (pH) in the biodigester containing manure andwater (MW) and the biodigester containing manure, water and sugarcane juice (MSC), during the 90 days biodigestion period.

For the MW treatment, the lowest pH values were obtained for up to 20 days, increasing over time, indicating that although many acids were formed, they were consumed throughout the process. All the pH values obtained were within the ideal range, which varies from 6.6 to 7.4 for anaerobic digestion, as described by Chernicharo (1997CHERNICHARO, C. A. L. Reatores anaeróbios: princípios do tratamento biológico de águas residuárias. Belo Horizonte: Polytécnica LTDA, 246p., 1997 .). However, in the MSC system, the values varied below this range, from 4.59 to 6.07 (Table 1 and Figure 2).

The volatile acidity of the effluents from the MW batch biodigesters ranged from 1200 to 4416mg·L-1. For the MSC systems, an increase in the acidity of the medium was also observed, varying between 2712 and 8424mg·L-1 (Table 1 and Figure 3). After 10 days of operation, it was evident that the high acidity of the medium in the biodigesters containing sugarcane juice had a direct influence on the inactivation of the bacteria.

Figure 3
Escherichia coli counts (CFU mL-1) and volatile acid concentrations (VA mg L-1) in the biodigester containing manure and water (MW) and the biodigester containing manure, water, and sugarcane juice (MSC), during the 90 days biodigestion period

Abdul and Lloyd (1985ABDUL, P., LLOYD, D. Pathogen survival during anaerobic digestion: Fatty acids inhibit anaerobic growth of Escherichia coli. Biotechnology Letters, v. 7, n. 2, p. 125-128, Fev. 1985. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007 %2FBF01026683?LI=true>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1007 /BF01026683.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.100...
) suggested that volatile acidity is an important factor for reducing pathogenic microorganisms during the process of anaerobic biodigestion. According to Henry et al. (1983HENRY, D. P. et al. Factors affecting the survival of Salmonella and Escherichia coli in anaerobically fermented pig waste. Journal of Applied Microbiology , v. 55, n. 1, p. 89-95, Ago. 1983. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2672.1983.tb02651.x/full>. Accessed: Mai. 30, 2017 . doi: 10.1111/j.1365-267 2.1983.tb02651.x.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.11...
), the toxicity of VA toward bacteria varies with the medium pH, where that toward Salmonella typhimurium was much greater at pH 4.0 than at pH 5.0 or higher.

Although, sugarcane juice can be used as a substrate in biodigesters with the main objective of increasing CH4 production, it could in practice lead to the rapid formation of acids and an abrupt reduction of pH due to the supply of readily soluble carbohydrates (XAVIER et al., 2016XAVIER, C. A. N. et al. Anaerobic digestion of dairy cow manure: diet and sugar cane broth addition effect. Archivos de Zootecnia, v. 65, n. 250, p. 131-138, Jun. 2016.) creating toxic conditions for different microorganisms (SAHLSTRÖM, 2003SAHLSTRÖM, L. A review of survival of pathogenic bacteria in organic waste used in biogas plants. Bioresource Technology, v. 87 , n. 2, p. 161-166, Abr. 2003. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852402001682>. Accessed: Mai. 05, 2017 . doi: 10.1016/S0960-8524(02)00168-2.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/art...
; KUNTE et al., 2004KUNTE, D. P. et al. Two-stage anaerobic digestion process for complete inactivation of enteric bacterial pathogens in human night soil. Water Science and Technology., v. 50, n. 6, p. 103-108, Set. 2004.).

Thus, the acidity of the medium is an important factor in the reduction of pathogenic microorganisms in substrates undergoing biodigestion. According to Strauch (1986STRAUCH, D. Animal hygiene and environmental hygiene. Zentralblatt Fur Bakteriologie Mikrobiologie Und Hygiene, v. 183, n. 2-3, p. 258-27 3, Dez. 1986. ), 90% of the reduction in Salmonella spp. was due to the decrease in the medium pH, with the drop being influenced by the acids produced by the microorganisms involved in the biodigestion process, which have a toxic effect on Salmonella. The author also pointed out that ammonia was not responsible for the decrease in the bacteria, because it is formed in medium with a pH between 8.0 and 9.0.

Thus, it is clear that the addition of sugarcane juice can positively influence the sanitation of excreta. In addition, this codigestion allows the restricted use of the biofertilizer in less time and with less risk to public, animal, and environmental health, when compared with the treatment without addition of the sugarcane juice.

It is worth emphasizing the need for this by-product (i.e., the biofertilizer) to meet the criteria established (since 2006) for its production, import, and marketing according to Normative Instruction SDA No.27, which limits the maximum number of thermotolerant coliforms to 1000MPN·g-1 of DM. The results of the MSC treatment were within the established criteria, which was not observed for the MW treatment.

CONCLUSION:

The codigestion of dairy cattle manure with 7% of sugarcane juice produced very interesting results, suggesting the successful sanitization of the by-product in accordance with the established criteria for biofertilizers. Thus, the reduction of the E. coli population and inactivation of STEC (stx 2 and eae) make the product feasible for use in the form of a fertilizer.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The authors are grateful for the scholarship granted by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). We also acknowledge the Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, FCAV/UNESP, Jaboticabal.

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  • 0
    CR-2017-0382.R1

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    2018

History

  • Received
    07 June 2017
  • Accepted
    21 Nov 2017
  • Reviewed
    01 Mar 2017
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