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Title: CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPARISON OF MICROBIAL POPULATIONS IN SWINE FECES ANDMANURE STORAGE PITS BY 16S RDNA GENE SEQUENCE ANALYSES

Author
item Whitehead, Terence
item Cotta, Michael

Submitted to: Anaerobe
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Odor emanating from anaerobic lagoons and swine production facilities has increased the tension among rural neighbors and among urban and rural residents. Storage of swine waste is associated with the production of a variety of odorous compounds, including ammonia, volatile organic acids and alcohols, and sulfides. In order to reduce production of odorous compounds, the responsible bacteria present in the fecal matter and manure storage pits must first be identified. We now report on the identification of predominant bacterial populations present in both pig feces and manure storage pits using molecular methods. Many of the microorganisms have not been previously identified in nature. This information will be valuable in devising strategies to deal with the problem of odor produced from stored animal waste.

Technical Abstract: Odor emanating from anaerobic lagoons and swine production facilities has increased the tension among rural neighbors and among urban and rural residents. Storage of swine waste is associated with the production of a variety of odorous compounds, including ammonia, organic acids and alcohols, and sulfides. Although the generation of these chemicals is the result of microbiological activity, little is known about the types of microorganisms responsible for their production. We have initiated an approach to determine predominant bacterial populations present in both pig feces and waste storage pits. Total DNA was isolated from these ecosystems. DNA sequence analyses of PCR amplified 16S rDNA genes derived from eubacterial sequences were carried out. Similarity analyses of the 16S sequences indicated the presence of primarily low G+C Gram-positive bacteria, such as Clostridium sp., Streptococcus sp., and Lactobacillus sp. .in both ecosystems. Many of the sequences were from unidentified microorganisms.