Progress 01/15/00 to 01/14/05

Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Microorganisms detrimental to humans may be released into the environment in waste from swine or poultry production and nutrients in waste may cause proliferation of harmful organisms in the environment. Presence, activity, and fate of harmful organisms must be determined and the management of waste modified to insure farmer and environmental safety. Continued expansion of poultry and swine production industries requires that farming communities and the water supplies not be at risk with respect to harmful microorganisms from animal waste. The harmful organisms are known to occur, but their fate and the effects of management on this hazard are unexplored. Any detrimental effects on environment must be managed and corrected. The first research objective is solution oriented research which develops microbial profiles (quantity and types of bacteria) for poultry litter as affected by climate, bird management, and by house management. Factors included in these tests are alternative bird diets, batches of birds on same litter, litter additives, and environment or season of the year. Characterization of swine lagoons reflect temperature, nutrient contents, pH, rain dilution, and season. The second research objective is to isolate bacteriophages (viruses that attack bacteria) for Campylobacter, Salmonella spp., and Yersinia to determine their value as indicators of bacterial contamination, as bacterial stain typing reagents (indicators of pathogen present), and utility for managing these pathogens in the swine lagoon. The third phase of research determines soil chemical properties and manure fertilization impacts on survival of Yersinia and Salmonella spp. in soil types to which swine effluent or poultry litter is often applied in the South. This research supports the mission of National Program 206, Manure and Byproduct Utilization. Foci of research on Pathogens and Pharmaceutically Active Compounds Component Problem Areas: (1) Methods assessment and development, (2a) Inactivation rates and transport characteristics of pathogen from animal agriculture, (2b) Pathogen indicators for fate and transport research, (Area 3) Pharmaceutically active compounds, and (4) Holistic treatment technologies for nutrients, pathogens and PACs. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. This project plan was certified in April of 2003. Year 1 (FY 2004) Objective 1. Refine enteric pathogen profiling approach. Effect bacterial assay of broiler house atmosphere. Objective 2. Complete sampling of swine lagoons for bacteriophages with concurrent microbial profiling. Objective 3. Complete physical and chemical analysis of soils. Apply manures to different soils and incubate. Year 2 (FY 2005) Objective 1. Generate image database for poultry litter sampled from commercial houses. Generate microbial profiles for gas loss studies on microbial activity in poultry house during seasons and with multiple bird batches on same litter. Objective 2. Complete sampling of poultry litter for bacteriophages with concurrent microbial profiling. Objective 3. Isolate and increase isolates of Salmonella and Yersinia. Determine soil status after incubation and incubate with individual pathogens. Year 3 (FY 2006) Objective 1. Generate image database for swine effluent sampled from single stage lagoons. Profile of bacterial in water samples from watersheds. Objective 2. Characterize bacteriophages associated with human bacterial pathogens from swine lagoon, start antiserum production. Objective 3. Incubations of pathogens with soil and one temperature. Further develop analytical procedures. Determine pathogen mortality and repeat if results are inconsistent over time or for increasing soil loading. Year 4 (FY 2007) Objective 1. Review effectiveness of profiling system and attempt further automation and refinement. Complete profile for litter treatments on cotton and sample swine lagoons over seasons. Objective 2. Characterize bacteriophages for human pathogens from poultry litter, surrogate serological tests are started, selection of phages for type bacteria is also started. Objective 3. Measure mortality in incubations, re-analyze soil for physical and chemical changes following the incubations. Regress pathogen mortality on concentration of each nutrient. Year 5 (FY 2008) Objective 1. Results validated and published materials indicate effects, usefulness, and difficulties of different profiling systems for microbiologists. Completed results interpreted within each experiment on management of poultry litter and swine effluent for respective experiments. Objective 2. Testing of phage biocontrol of bacteria completed. Results indicate or suggest the possibility and probability of biocontrol of the bacterial pathogens and the possibility of identifying human pathogens by presence of specific bacteriophage. Objective 3. Completed results indicate fate of these pathogens as a function of soil characters. Completed study indicates the possibility that manure fertilization alters the soil and alters the rates for survival of human pathogens. 3a List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2005. For each milestone, indicate the status: fully met, substantially met, or not met. If not met, why. 1. Generate image database for poultry litter sampled from commercial houses. Generate microbial profiles for gas loss studies on microbial activity in poultry house during seasons and with multiple bird batches on same litter. Milestone Not Met Critical SY Vacancy 2. Complete sampling of poultry litter for bacteriophages with concurrent microbial profiling. Milestone Not Met Critical SY Vacancy 3. Isolate and increase isolates of Salmonella and Yersinia. Determine soil status after incubation and incubate with individual pathogens. Milestone Substantially Met 3b List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2006, 2007, and 2008). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? This project plan certified in April 2003 was scheduled to be rewritten in 2004 along with other programs in National Program 206. On October 2, 2004, Associate Deputy Administrator authorized a postponement in writing of new project plan. Plan will be rewritten and subjected to ad-hoc reviews after new Research Microbologist is hired. Therefore, this project terminated and was replaced in the interim with 6406-32000-009- 00D in January 2005. 4a What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Identification of bacteriophage in cultures is hampered by the difficulty of visually identifying individual plaques and this defeats attempts to develop an automatic system for counting plaques. Chemicals were added in bacteriophage plaque assay media stain which enhanced the contrast between live bacteria and those killed by the bacteriophage. Enhancing visual readability improves the accuracy of counts of plaque and, if amenable to digital automation, the time for assay could be reduced. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. The concurrent development of a quantitative phage isolation procedure and methods for isolating of Salmonella are the major accomplishments of this project. Future research and testing of these methods will allow the development of a fast, quantitative, phage-based assay for the presence of Salmonella in environmental samples.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

• El Balaa, M.F., Adeli, A., Rowe, D.E., Brink, G.E. 2003. Suitability of bacterial indicators in identifying runoff from poultry litter amended soil [abstract]. Agronomy Abstracts. CD-ROM.
• El Balaa, M.F., Adeli, A., McLaughlin, M.R., Rowe, D.E. 2004. Survival of salmonella in broiler litter incubated at different water activity levels [abstract]. International Poultry Scientific Forum. p. 40.
• Holowachuk, S.A., El Balaa, M.F., Gerard, P.D., Buddington, R.K. 2004. Nonparallel secretion of antibacterial activity and and protein in porcine pancreatic juice. Pancreas. 28:e32-e38.
• McLaughlin, M.R., El Balaa, M.F., Sims, J., Andersland, J., King, R. 2004. Salmonella phages from swine manure lagoons [abstract]. Proceedings American Society for Microbiology Conference New Phage Biology Conference. p. 21.

Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04

Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Microorganisms detrimental to humans may be released into the environment in waste from swine or poultry production and nutrients in waste may cause proliferation of harmful organisms in the environment. Presence, activity, and fate of harmful organisms must be determined and the management of waste modified to ensure farmer and environmental safety. Continued expansion of poultry and swine production industries requires that farming communities and the water supplies not be at risk with respect to harmful microorganisms from animal waste. The harmful organisms are known to occur, but their fate and the effects of management on this hazard are unexplored. Any detrimental effects on environment must be managed and corrected. The first research objective is solution oriented research which develops microbial profiles (quantity and types of bacteria) for poultry litter as affected by climate, bird management, and house management. Factors included in these tests are alternative bird diets, batches of birds on same litter, litter additives, and environment or season of the year. Characterization of swine manure lagoons include temperature, nutrient contents, pH, rain dilution, and season. The second research objective is to isolate bacteriophages (viruses that attack bacteria) for Campylobacter, Salmonella spp., and Yersinia to determine their value as indicators of bacterial contamination, as bacterial stain typing reagents (indicators of pathogen present), and utility for managing these pathogens in the swine lagoon. The third phase of research determines soil chemical properties and manure fertilization impacts on survival of Yersinia and Salmonella spp. in soil types to which swine effluent or poultry litter is often applied in the south. This research focuses on National Program 206 Manure and Byproduct Utilization. The problem areas addressed under the pathogens component of the Action Plan are item 1. Methods for sensitive detection and accurate quantitation of pathogens in complex matrices such as manure and soil to be developed, item 2. The environmental loading rate of bacterial and protozan pathogens from land application of manure and the survival of various types of fecal pathogens need to be determined, item 4. Cost effective treatment technologies to reduce the concentration of viable pathogens and parasites in manure and byproducts prior to land application are needed. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. This Project Plan certified by Office of Scientific Quality Review in April of 2003. Year 1 (FY2003) Objective 1. Refine enteric pathogen profiling approach. Effect bacterial assay of broiler house atmosphere. Objective 2. Complete sampling of swine lagoons for bacteriophages with concurrent microbial profiling. Objective 3. Complete physical and chemical analysis of soils. Apply manures to different soils and incubate. Year 2 (FY 2004) Objective 1. Generate image database for poultry litter sampled from commercial houses. Generate microbial profiles for gas loss studies on microbial activity in poultry house during seasons and with multiple bird batches on same litter. Objective 2. Complete sampling of poultry litter for bacteriophages with concurrent microbial profiling. Objective 3. Isolate and increase isolates of Salmonella and Yersinia. Determine soil status after incubation and incubate with individual pathogens. Year 3 (FY 2005) Objective 1. Generate image database for swine effluent sampled from single stage lagoons. Profile of bacteria in water samples from watersheds. Objective 2. Characterize bacteriophages associated with human bacterial pathogens from swine lagoon, start antiserum production. Objective 3. Incubations of pathogens with soil and one temperature. Further develop analytical procedures. Determine pathogen mortality and repeat if results are inconsistent over time or for increasing soil loading. Year 4(FY 2006) Objective 1. Review effectiveness of profiling system and attempt further automation and refinement. Complete profile for litter treatments on cotton and sample swine lagoons over seasons. Objective 2. Characterize bacteriophages for human pathogens from poultry litter, surrogate serological tests are started, selection of phages for type bacteria is also started. Objective 3. Measure mortality in incubations, re-analyze soil for physical and chemical changes following the incubations. Regress pathogen mortality on concentration of each nutrient. Year 5 (FY 2007) Objective 1. Results validated and published materials indicate effects, usefulness, and difficulties of different profiling systems for microbiologists. Completed results interpreted within each experiment on management off poultry litter and swine effluent for respective experiments. Objective 2. Testing of phage biocontrol of bacteria completed. Results indicate or suggest the possibility and probability of biocontrol of the bacterial pathogens and the possibility of identifying human pathogens by presence of specific bacteriophage. Objective 3. Completed results indicate fate of these pathogens as a function of soil characters. Completed study indicates the possibility that manure fertilization alters the soil and alters the rates for survival of human pathogens. 3. Milestones: A. List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2004. How many milestones did you fully or substantially meet in FY 2004 and indicate which ones were not fully or substantially met, briefly explain why not, and your plans to do so. The milestones listed below were scheduled to be completed in Year 2 (FY 2004). Objective 1. Generate image database for poultry litter sampled from commercial houses. Generate microbial profiles for gas loss studies on microbial activity in poultry house during seasons and with multiple bird batches on same litter. Objective 2. Complete sampling of poultry litter for bacteriophages with concurrent microbial profiling. Objective 3. Isolate and increase isolates of Salmonella and Yersinia. Determine soil status after incubation and incubate with individual pathogens. Important administrative changes: In 2003 the scientist leading research on Objective 3 transferred to USDA-NRCS and that objective has not been addressed. In 2004 the assignment of the virologist who leads the research in Objective 2 was increased from 70% to 100% to this Project Plan. The soil scientist position was decreased from 30% to zero. Milestones, status: Objective 1. Bacterial assay of broiler house atmosphere not completed (12 month) and microbial profiles not linked to gas loss studies in poultry houses (24 month). Other milestones have been completed. Objective 2. Bacteriophages have been sampled from lagoons but microbial profiling for the same lagoons is incomplete. Bacteriophages isolation from litter has not occurred. Objective 3. Not addressed because of change in CRIS assignments and elimination of scientist. Research has not progressed entirely as planned. Program now researches Salmonella as the human pathogen of interest because this single organism consumes 100% of the resources. Administrative personnel action has been taken by Research Leader to improve scientists' planning, focused effort, and productivity. B. List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2005, 2006, and 2007). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? This project plan, though less than two years old is undergoing a rewrite in the scheduled Project Planning Cycle for NP 206, Manure and Byproduct Utilization. New draft plan will be submitted by December 2004 and is to be reviewed, corrected, and certified early in 2005. Anticipated outcomes for the next three years follow. Year 3 (FY 2005): Continue sampling of swine lagoons for bacteriophages and begin sampling from poultry litter. Isolate and identify bacteriophages which lyse human bacterial pathogens. Continue to develop critical environmental factors such as moisture which contribute to proliferation or elimination of harmful pathogens in the poultry house, the swine lagoon, and in the soil. Year 4 (FY 2006): Develop serological test to detect and quantify the presence of Salmonella-specific phages. In cooperative efforts, implement studies on pathogen fate and transport using rain simulation under controlled conditions. Determine fate and proliferation of bacteriophage as a function of environment in the swine lagoon. Determine fate of Salmonella in poultry litter with managed moisture levels in litter and atmosphere. Determine the effectiveness of phage cocktails on controlling different Salmonella isolates and direct lagoon isolates. Year 5 (FY 2007): Complete the characterization of bacteriophages which lyse four human bacterial pathogens. Characterize pathogens with respect to their ability to survive nutrient stresses, osmotic stress, desiccation, pH, and other factors found in soil and environment. Model developed for phage-based control of Salmonella in selected environments. 4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single Most Significant Accomplishment During FY 2004: Many different laboratory models are available to monitor pathogen survival in environmental samples. The lack of standard methods makes it nearly impossible to compare data from one study with those of another. This greatly complicates the task of decision makers and public health risk assessors. Research led to the development of survival model utilizing aggregated soil or manure to monitor Salmonella survival under ambient environmental conditions. The developed approach provides a simple and cost effective method with excellent detection limit to better understand the conditions that lead to pathogen destruction or persistence in the environment. Reproducibility of aggregates is phenomenal with respect to inoculums, mass, water content and water loss under drying conditions. The developed survival model has been adapted for the identification of cost effective treatment regimens suitable for pathogen control in animal production environments. B. Other Significant Accomplishment(s), if any. Injured cells demonstrate reduced recovery on laboratory media. Poor recovery of injured cells can lead to incorrect test results, which can have great economic and public health impacts. Research led to the development of a quantitative recovery assay that permits reliable and efficient comparison of pathogen recoveries on laboratory media. Recovery of Salmonella from inoculated broiler litter subjected to different drying regimens was evaluated on sixteen commercial media. Results of this study identified potential culture media suitable for recovering Salmonella using less laborious air sampling techniques. Media effective in recovering Salmonella from dried broiler litter are needed to monitor the hygienic conditions of poultry houses after a clean out, thus identifying more effectively, locations that require interventions and remediation treatments for Salmonella control. Quantitative method was needed for the isolation of bacteriophages as indicators of Salmonella in environmental samples. A bacteriophage isolation protocol was developed for quantifying Salmonella-specific phages in swine effluent lagoon samples by scientists in the Waste Management and Forage Research Unit at Mississippi State, MS. The quantitative phage isolation procedure was developed concurrently with development of methods for isolation of Salmonella. Further testing and development of these methods is expected to provide a phage-based test for faster detection of the presence of Salmonella in environmental samples. C. Significant Accomplishments/Activities that Support Special Target Populations: None. D. Progress Report: Studies in progress involve the characterization of phage isolates already collected. These include: determination of phage size and shape by electron microscopy (collaborative research with Western Kentucky University); bacterial host range determinations; production of phage- specific antiserum; genome characterization with restriction endonucleases; development of an improved plaque assay technique for Salmonella-specific phages; and study of the relative survival of Salmonella and Salmonella-specific phages in swine effluent. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. Program is approximately 20 months old. Major impacts are those described in item 4A. A quantitative recovery assay that permits reliable and efficient comparison of pathogen recoveries on laboratory media was utilized. Recovery of Salmonella from inoculated broiler litter subjected to different drying regimens was evaluated on sixteen commercial media. Results of this study identified potential culture media suitable for recovering Salmonella using less laborious air sampling techniques. Media effective in recovering Salmonella from dried broiler litter are needed to monitor the hygienic conditions of poultry houses after a clean out, thus identifying more effectively, locations that require interventions and remediation treatments for Salmonella control. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Much of this research samples litter and lagoon effluent from commercial farms and this promotes interaction and transfer of information between scientist and farmer. Scientific results are conveyed one on one to major cooperating farmers. Scientists report informally to Mississippi Farm Bureau Advisory Councils twice a year on current progress of research programs. Scientists participate in farmer days open houses on extension farms.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

• El Balaa, M.F., Adeli, A., Rowe, D.E., Brink, G.E. 2003. Suitability of bacterial indicators in identifying runoff from poultry litter amended soil [abstract]. Agronomy Abstracts. CD-ROM.
• El Balaa, M.F., Adeli, A., McLaughlin, M.R., Rowe, D.E. 2004. Survival of salmonella in broiler litter incubated at different water activity levels [abstract]. International Poultry Scientific Forum. p. 40.
• Holowachuk, S.A., El Balaa, M.F., Gerard, P.D., Buddington, R.K. 2004. Nonparallel secretion of antibacterial activity and and protein in porcine pancreatic juice. Pancreas. 28:e32-e38.
• McLaughlin, M.R., El Balaa, M.F., Sims, J., Andersland, J., King, R. 2004. Salmonella phages from swine manure lagoons [abstract]. Proceedings American Society for Microbiology Conference New Phage Biology Conference. p. 21.

Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03

Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it? Microorganisms detrimental to humans may be released into the environment in waste from swine or poultry production and nutrients in waste may cause proliferation of harmful organisms in the environment. Presence, activity, and fate of harmful organisms must be determined and the management of waste modified to insure farmer and environmental safety. 2. How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Continued expansion of poultry and swine production industries requires that farming communities and the water supplies not be at risk with respect to harmful microorganisms from animal waste. The harmful organisms are known to occur, but their fate and the effects of management on this hazard are unexplored. Any detrimental effects on environment must be managed and corrected. 3. How does it relate to the National Program(s) and National Program Component(s) to which it has been assigned? Research is focused on pathogen program component of the Manure and Byproduct Utilization (206) program. Swine and poultry waste production in the South are evaluated for hazards and managed for control of harmful microorganisms and nutrient concentrations which result in proliferation of any harmful microorganisms. 4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A: Single Most Significant Accomplishment during FY 2003: A straightforward method for managing human pathogens in poultry litter from poultry production is to modify the moisture level in the litter. Research determined the impact of poultry litter water activity on the survival of Salmonella using a novel method of humidity generation to control the rate of water loss from poultry litter and generate different water activity levels. Time course data on the survival of Salmonella under different water availability regimens identified drying regimens that yielded 99.9% destruction of this pathogen. With completion of field studies guidelines will be developed for the poultry industry for control of harmful organisms through control of moisture, a process which is likely to easily managed by the farmer. B: Other Significant Accomplishment(s), if any: Human pathogens are associated with swine production and their control is a serious problem for the industry and a concern for the public. Biological control of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella might be effected through introduction of naturally occurring viruses which attack the bacteria. In cooperation with scientists at Western Kentucky State University in Bowling Green, KY, a system for isolating viruses called phages which attack Salmonella was developed. Development of the phages is useful for biological control of the organisms in lagoons and other waste and for identifying the presence of the harmful bacteria in the environment. C: Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations: None. D: Progress Report: Bacterial type cultures for phage isolations and testing were obtained. Field collection and laboratory testing methods were developed for the isolation and initial characterization of lytic Salmonella bacteriophages from swine effluent lagoons. Collaborative arrangements were made with colleagues at Western Kentucky State University for electron microscopy of isolated phages. The development of a novel software package for the differential enumeration of bacterial colony types on culture plates was completed. The developed software logs and generated reports were based on the particulars of a study, including batches analyzed and selected colony morphologies. The developed approach was used to determine the types and prevalence of Gram-negative enteric bacteria in surface runoff from poultry amended study plots. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. This research determines the existence and fate of human pathogens in waste from animal production in the South. It also searches for opportunistic pathogens in the soil which flourish with exposure to animal waste. The management options and their impacts on pathogen survival or proliferation are determined. Management and intervention includes the possible use of bacteriophages (viruses parasitic on bacteria) to control human pathogen proliferation. 6. What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years? FY2004: Continue sampling of swine lagoons for bacteriophages and begin sampling from poultry litter. Isolate and identify bacteriophages which lyse human bacterial pathogens. Continue to develop critical environmental factors such as moisture which contribute to proliferation or elimination of harmful pathogens in the poultry house, the swine lagoon, and in the soil. FY2005: Implement studies on pathogen fate and transport using rain simulation under controlled conditions. Determine fate and proliferation of bacteriophage as a function of environment in the swine lagoon. Test poultry houses for salmonella with managed moisture levels. FY2006: Complete the characterization of bacteriophages which lyse four human bacterial pathogens. Characterize pathogens with respect to their ability to survive nutrient stresses, osmotic stress, desiccation, pH, and other factors found in soil and environment. Implement small scale field studies on human pathogen survival with land application of animal waste.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

• Mclaughlin, M.R., El Balaa, M.F., Rowe, D.E., Doerner, K.C., King, R., Andersland, J. 2003. Isolation of lytic salmonella bacteriophages [abstract]. Poultry Science 82(supplement 1):140.
• El Balaa, M.F., Adeli, A., Brink, G.E., Chilukuri, A., Mclaughlin, M.R., Rowe, D.E. 2002. Survival of salmonella typhimurium in four soil microcosms as affected by soil type and incubation temperature [abstract]. Agronomy Abstracts. CD-ROM.
• Adeli, A., Varco, J.J., Mostafa, S.M., Rowe, D.E., El Balaa, M.F. 2002. Comparability of anaerobic swine lagoon effluent to commercial fertilizer on soil nutrient dynamics. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 33:3779-3795.
• Holowachuk, S.A., El Balaa, M.F., Buddington, R.K. 2002. The antibacterial activity of pancreatic juice: Relations with feeding state and protein secretion [abstract]. Annual Meeting of Animal Physiology Proceedings.
• El Balaa, M.F., Adeli, A., McGowen, S.L., Rowe, D.E. 2002. Survival of salmonella typhimurium in four soil types at different levels of water activity [abstract]. Agronomy Abstracts. CD-ROM.
• El Balaa, M.F., Brink, G.E., Adeli, A., Rowe, D.E. 2003. Development of a model system to study impacts of manure management practices on microbiological water quality [abstract]. International Poultry Scientific Forum. p. 14.

Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02

Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it? Microorganisms detrimental to humans may be released into the environment in waste from swine or poultry production and nutrients in waste may cause proliferation of harmful organisms in the environment. Presence, activity, and fate of harmful organisms must be determined and the management of waste modified to insure environmental safety. 2. How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Continued expansion of poultry and swine production industries requires that farming communities and the water supplies not be at risk with respect to harmful microorganisms from animal waste. The harmful organisms are known to occur, but their fate and the effects of management on this hazard are unexplored. Any detrimental effects on environment must be managed and corrected. 3. How does it relate to the national Program(s) and National Program Component(s) to which it has been assigned? Research is focused on pathogen program component of the Manure and Byproduct Utilization (206) program. Swine and poultry waste production in the South are evaluated for hazards and managed for control of harmful microorganisms and nutrient concentrations which result in proliferation of any harmful microorganisms. 4. What was your most significant accomplishment this past year? A. Single Most Significant Accomplishment during FY 2002: Sampling animal manures for human pathogens and other microorganisms is a difficult, time consuming process. Software was developed for characterizing bacteria growing on culture plates by scientists in the Waste Management and Forage Research Unit, Crop Science Research Laboratory. New procedures catalogues and enumerates colony morphologies of bacteria growing on culture media. This process gives a more accurate measure of both the bacterial diversity in soil and manure and the survivability of human pathogens in soil or manure. B. Other Significant Accomplishment(s), if any: None C. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations: None D. Progress Report: The Microbiologist for this recently funded program established the foundations of a microbiology laboratory, developed technologies that facilitate and support the quantification of pathogens in soil. 5. Describe your major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact? This research determines the existence and fate of human pathogens from animal production in the South. It also searches for opportunistic pathogens which flourish with exposure to animal waste. The management options and their impacts on pathogen survival or proliferation are determined. Management and intervention includes the possible use of bacteriophages (viruses parasitic on bacteria) to control human pathogen proliferation. 6. What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years? FY 2003: Complete sampling of swine lagoons for bacteriophages. Isolate bacteriophages which lyse some human bacterial pathogens. Determine the effects of water availability on pathogen survival and the effects of chemical treatments at different moisture levels on prevalence of pathogens in manures. FY 2004: Complete sampling of poultry litter for bacteriophages that lyse selected human bacterial pathogens. Automate the humidity mixing reactor and program it to test alternating humidity effects on pathogen survival. FY 2005: Complete the characterization of bacteriophages which lyse selected human bacterial pathogens. Characterize pathogens with respect to their ability to survive nutrient stresses, osmotic stress, desiccation, pH, and other factors found in soil and environment. 8. List your most important publications and presentations, and articles written about your work (NOTE: this does not replace your review publications which are listed below) Adeli, A., Varco, J.J. Potassium management effects on cotton yield and soil test K levels. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 2002. v. 25. p. 2229-2242. Adeli, A., Varco. J.J. Swine lagoon effluent as a source of N and P for summer grass. Agronomy Journal. 2001. v. 93. p. 1174-1181.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

• El Balaa, M.F., McLaughlin, M.R., Adeli, A., Rowe, D.E. Bacterial zoonoses: developing a bibliographic information exchange model. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Animal Production and Environmental Issues. 2001. v. 1.p. 533-540.
• El Balaa, M.F., McGowen, S.L., Adeli, A., Rowe, D.E. Pathgens in manure: new challenges to microbiologists. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Animal Production and Environmental Issues. 2001. v. 1. p. 524-532.

Progress 10/01/00 to 09/30/01

Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it? Microorganisms detrimental to humans may be released into the environment in waste from swine or poultry production and nutrients in waste may cause proliferation of harmful organisms in the environment. Presence, activity, and fate of harmful organisms must be determined and the management of waste modified to insure environmental safety. 2. How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Continued expansion of poultry and swine production industries requires that farming communities and the water supplies not be at risk with respect to harmful microorganisms from animal waste. The harmful organisms are known to occur, but their fate and the effects of management on this hazard are unexplored. Any detrimental effects on environment must be managed and corrected. 3. How does it relate to the National Program(s) and National Component(s)? Research is focused on pathogen program component of the Manure and Byproduct Utilization (206) program. Swine and poultry waste production in the South are evaluated for hazards and managed for control of harmful microorganisms and nutrient concentrations which result in proliferation of any harmful microorganisms. 4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single Most Significant Accomplishment During FY2001: Nutrients in the poultry litter or swine effluent are expected to affect the growth, persistence, and succession of microorganisms. Nutrients in swine effluent and poultry litter were characterized and tested for their biological availability. Nutrients in the effluent were nearly entirely mineralized and the organism dosage was about 1 thousand per cc except for the litter which was mostly organic, the microorganism concentration was 1000 times greater with a density of 1 million per gram of litter. Since there is a much greater density of organisms in the litter than in the effluent, the poultry litter is likely to be a much more complex system in which to verify the fate of human pathogens. B. Other Significant Accomplishment(s), if any: C. Significant Accomplishments/Activities that Support Special Target Populations: D. Progress Report: The Microbiologist for this newly, funded program was hired in December 2000. Most effort has been in staffing the program with two scientists, developing research facilities, and defining research objectives and priorities. The operator of a cooperating corporate swine operation has given us permission to sample lagoons for pathogens and indicator microorganisms at any of his six Mississippi farms. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project including their predicted or actual impact. This research determines the existence and fate of human pathogens from animal production in the South. It also searches for opportunistic pathogens which flourish with exposure to animal waste. The management options and their impacts on pathogen survival or proliferation are determined. Management and intervention includes the possible use of bacteriophages (viruses parasitic on bacteria) to control human pathogen proliferation. 6. What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years? FY 2002: Begin profiling bacteria found in swine lagoons during the year as a function of environmental conditions and swine production operations. Determine sample sizes needed to characterize either poultry litter or swine effluent samples. FY 2003: Determine real time changes in effluent nutrients, oxygenation, etc. as it moves from lagoon to field during irrigations and determine how these changes affect microorganism survival. Determine variability in bacteriophages found in the swine effluent. FY 2004: Following land applications of swine and poultry waste, determine how different soil types impact either microorganism survival or proliferation. Determine how soil nutrients affect microorganism growth and any proliferation in water. 7. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints if known, to the adoption & durability of the technology product? Nothing to report. 8. List your most important publications in the popular press (no abstracts) and presentations to non-scientific organizations and articles written about your work (NOTE: this does not replace your peer-reviewed publications which are listed below) None

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

• Adeli,A., Varco,J.J., Rowe,D.E. Swine effluent irrigation rate and timing effects on bermudagrass growth, N and P utilization, and residual soil N. Agronomy Abstracts. 2000. p. 51.