Journal article
The Efficacy of Vermicomposting on the Population Structure of Enterococci in Domestic Biosolids in a Residential Resort Community
Environmental Health, Vol.8(2), pp.11-20
2008
Abstract
The effects that vermiculture (VC) treatment had on the population and community structure of enterococci in domestic biosolids in a residential resort in southeast Queensland were investigated by enumerating and typing enterococci with a biochemical fingerprinting method. Vermiculture beds with a substrate consisting of non-amended biosolids from an activated sludge sewage treatment plant were established. Various treatments (earthworms added and earthworms excluded) beds were sampled on three occasions. Enterococci numbers were significantly lower in the earthworm treatments than those without. Of the 300 isolates biochemically fingerprinted, 106 different biochemical phenotypes (BPTs) were identified. The overall mean diversity of enterococci in all beds was high (0.87 ± 0.13; maximum is 1), indicating a diverse enterococci population. The overall mean population similarity (Sp) value among beds was quite low (0.16 ± 0.10) also indicating a diverse population. Antibiotic resistance patterns (ARPs) of the 106 BPTs revealed that 83.6% were resistant to rifampicin, 59.6% were resistant to erythromycin, 21.9% were resistant to tetracycline, 7.7% were resistant to ampicillin and 2.9% were resistant to gentamicin and vancomycin. The results indicate that the current VC methods used in the residential resort to create worm castings for potting mixture might not satisfactorily pasteurise the biosolids and a significant number of pathogenic microorganisms could be present. There remains a potential health risk to workers and guests and routine monitoring of pathogens is recommended for improved management of stockpiled biosolids.
Details
- Title
- The Efficacy of Vermicomposting on the Population Structure of Enterococci in Domestic Biosolids in a Residential Resort Community
- Authors
- James Harper (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and EducationWarish Ahmed (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and EducationAnne H Neller (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and EducationNeil W Tindale (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and EducationRonald J Neller (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and EducationD Ipek Kurtboke (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
- Publication details
- Environmental Health, Vol.8(2), pp.11-20
- Publisher
- Australian Institute of Environmental Health
- ISSN
- 1832-3367
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Education - Legacy; School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy; Sustainability Research Centre
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449894202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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