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Kuznetsova A, McKenzie D, Ytrehus B, Utaaker KS, Aiken JM. Movement of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Prairie, Boreal and Alpine Soils. Pathogens 2023; 12:269. [PMID: 36839541 PMCID: PMC9965917 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy negatively impacting cervids on three continents. Soil can serve as a reservoir for horizontal transmission of CWD by interaction with the infectious prion protein (PrPCWD) shed by diseased individuals and from infected carcasses. We investigated the pathways for PrPCWD migration in soil profiles using lab-scale soil columns, comparing PrPCWD migration through pure soil minerals (quartz, illite and montmorillonite), and diverse soils from boreal (Luvisol, Brunisol) and prairie (Chernozem) regions. We analyzed the leachate of the soil columns by immunoblot and protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) and detected PrP in the leachates of columns composed of quartz, illite, Luvisol and Brunisol. Animal bioassay confirmed the presence of CWD infectivity in the leachates from quartz, illite and Luvisol columns. Leachates from columns with montmorillonite and prairie Chernozems did not contain PrP detectable by immunoblotting or PMCA; bioassay confirmed that the Chernozemic leachate was not infectious. Analysis of the solid phase of the columns confirmed the migration of PrP to lower layers in the illite column, while the strongest signal in the montmorillonite column remained close to the surface. Montmorillonite, the prevalent clay mineral in prairie soils, has the strongest prion binding ability; by contrast, illite, the main clay mineral in northern boreal and tundra soils, does not bind prions significantly. This suggests that in soils of North American CWD-endemic regions (Chernozems), PrPCWD would remain on the soil surface due to avid binding to montmorillonite. In boreal Luvisols and mountain Brunisols, prions that pass through the leaf litter will continue to move through the soil mineral horizon, becoming less bioavailable. In light-textured soils where quartz is a dominant mineral, the majority of the infectious prions will move through the soil profile. Local soil properties may consequently determine the efficiency of environmental transmission of CWD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alsu Kuznetsova
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G8, Canada
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Debbie McKenzie
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Bjørnar Ytrehus
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biomedicine and Veterinary Public Health Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kjersti Selstad Utaaker
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026 Bodø, Norway
| | - Judd M. Aiken
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
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Xu S, Abeysekara S, Dudas S, Czub S, Staskevicius A, Mitchell G, Amoako KK, McAllister TA. Biodegradation of bovine spongiform encephalopathy prions in compost. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22233. [PMID: 36564427 PMCID: PMC9789035 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26201-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
To reduce the transmission risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy prions (PrPBSE), specified risk materials (SRM) that can harbour PrPBSE are prevented from entering the feed and food chains. As composting is one approach to disposing of SRM, we investigated the inactivation of PrPBSE in lab-scale composters over 28 days and in bin composters over 106-120 days. Lab-scale composting was conducted using 45 kg of feedlot manure with and without chicken feathers. Based on protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), after 28 days of composting, PrPBSE seeding activity was reduced by 3-4 log10 with feathers and 3 log10 without. Bin composters were constructed using ~ 2200 kg feedlot manure and repeated in 2017 and 2018. PMCA results showed that seeding activity of PrPBSE was reduced by 1-2 log10 in the centre, but only by 1 log10 in the bottom of bin composters. Subsequent assessment by transgenic (Tgbov XV) mouse bioassay confirmed a similar reduction in PrPBSE infectivity. Enrichment for proteolytic microorganisms through the addition of feathers to compost could enhance PrPBSE degradation. In addition to temperature, other factors including varying concentrations of PrPBSE and the nature of proteolytic microbial populations may be responsible for differential degradation of PrPBSE during composting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanwei Xu
- grid.55614.330000 0001 1302 4958Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden Research and Development Centre, 101 Route 100, Morden, MB R6M 1Y5 Canada
| | - Sujeema Abeysekara
- grid.55614.330000 0001 1302 4958Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB Canada
| | - Sandor Dudas
- grid.418040.90000 0001 2177 1232Canadian and WOAH Reference Laboratories for BSE, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge, AB Canada
| | - Stefanie Czub
- grid.418040.90000 0001 2177 1232Canadian and WOAH Reference Laboratories for BSE, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge, AB Canada
| | - Antanas Staskevicius
- grid.418040.90000 0001 2177 1232Canadian and WOAH Reference Laboratories for Scrapie and CWD, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Gordon Mitchell
- grid.418040.90000 0001 2177 1232Canadian and WOAH Reference Laboratories for Scrapie and CWD, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Kingsley K. Amoako
- grid.418040.90000 0001 2177 1232National Centres for Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge, AB Canada
| | - Tim A. McAllister
- grid.55614.330000 0001 1302 4958Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB Canada
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McNulty EE, Nalls AV, Xun R, Denkers ND, Hoover EA, Mathiason CK. In vitro detection of haematogenous prions in white-tailed deer orally dosed with low concentrations of chronic wasting disease. J Gen Virol 2020; 101:347-361. [PMID: 31846418 PMCID: PMC7416609 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectivity associated with prion disease has been demonstrated in blood throughout the course of disease, yet the ability to detect blood-borne prions by in vitro methods remains challenging. We capitalized on longitudinal pathogenesis studies of chronic wasting disease (CWD) conducted in the native host to examine haematogenous prion load by real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) and protein misfolding cyclic amplification. Our study demonstrated in vitro detection of amyloid seeding activity (prions) in buffy-coat cells harvested from deer orally dosed with low concentrations of CWD positive (+) brain (1 gr and 300 ng) or saliva (300 ng RT-QuIC equivalent). These findings make possible the longitudinal assessment of prion disease and deeper investigation of the role haematogenous prions play in prion pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E. McNulty
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Amy V. Nalls
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Randy Xun
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Nathaniel D. Denkers
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Edward A. Hoover
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Candace K. Mathiason
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Yang WQ, Zhuo Q, Chen Q, Chen Z. Effect of iron nanoparticles on passivation of cadmium in the pig manure aerobic composting process. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 690:900-910. [PMID: 31302554 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal ion in pig manure impacting on the ecosystem, and hence the immobilization of Cd by green synthesis of iron nanoparticles (G-nFe) is a potential approach. In this study, transformation of Cd (II) during the pig manure thermophilic aerobic composting process in the presence of G-nFe was investigated. The results show that the addition of G-nFe promoted the composting process and release of available phosphorus (AP). In all six experiments, obvious passivation of Cd occurred during 15 days' composting. Particularly when 500 mL kg-1 of G-nFe was added and Cd (II) was added at 0.6%(w/w%), residual Cd increased from 0.0016% to 55.70% and exchangeable Cd decreased from 98.54% to 7.21%. Batch experiments revealed that the G-nFe promoted the transformation of Cd into a larger passivation fraction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM-Mapping and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was used to characterize residual samples, where indicated that the passivation of Cd in compost was highly correlated with the increase of P, it can be concluded that fixing with compost resulted in the formation of Cd phosphate precipitation or co-precipitation with other phosphates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Qing Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Minnan Science and Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qian Zhuo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Minnan Science and Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qinghua Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Minnan Science and Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian Province, China
| | - Zuliang Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Minnan Science and Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian Province, China.
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Longhurst PJ, Tompkins D, Pollard SJT, Hough RL, Chambers B, Gale P, Tyrrel S, Villa R, Taylor M, Wu S, Sakrabani R, Litterick A, Snary E, Leinster P, Sweet N. Risk assessments for quality-assured, source-segregated composts and anaerobic digestates for a circular bioeconomy in the UK. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 127:253-266. [PMID: 30928849 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A circular economy relies on demonstrating the quality and environmental safety of wastes that are recovered and reused as products. Policy-level risk assessments, using generalised exposure scenarios, and informed by stakeholder communities have been used to appraise the acceptability of necessary changes to legislation, allowing wastes to be valued, reused and marketed. Through an extensive risk assessment exercise, summarised in this paper, we explore the burden of proof required to offer safety assurance to consumer and brand-sensitive food sectors in light of attempts to declassify, as wastes, quality-assured, source-segregated compost and anaerobic digestate products in the United Kingdom. We report the residual microbiological and chemical risks estimated for both products in land application scenarios and discuss these in the context of an emerging UK bioeconomy worth £52bn per annum. Using plausible worst case assumptions, as demanded by the quality food sector, risk estimates and hazard quotients were estimated to be low or negligible. For example, the human health risk of E. coli 0157 illness from exposure to microbial residuals in quality-assured composts, through a ready-to-eat vegetable consumption exposure route, was estimated at ~10-8 per person per annum. For anaerobic digestion residues, 7 × 10-3cases of E. coli 0157 were estimated per annum, a potential contribution of 0.0007% of total UK cases. Hazard quotients for potential chemical contaminants in both products were insufficient in magnitude to merit detailed quantitative risk assessments. Stakeholder engagement and expert review was also a substantive feature of this study. We conclude that quality-assured, source-segregated products applied to land, under UK quality protocols and waste processing standards, pose negligible risks to human, animal, environmental and crop receptors, providing that risk management controls set within the standards and protocols are adhered to.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Longhurst
- Cranfield University, School of Water, Energy and Environment, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - David Tompkins
- Waste and Resources Action Programme, Second Floor, Blenheim Court, 19 George Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 5BH, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J T Pollard
- Cranfield University, School of Water, Energy and Environment, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom.
| | - Rupert L Hough
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Brian Chambers
- RSK ADAS Limited, Spring Lodge, 172 Chester Road, Helsby, WA6 0AR, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Gale
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Tyrrel
- Cranfield University, School of Water, Energy and Environment, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Raffaella Villa
- Cranfield University, School of Water, Energy and Environment, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Taylor
- RSK ADAS Limited, Spring Lodge, 172 Chester Road, Helsby, WA6 0AR, United Kingdom
| | - Shaomin Wu
- Cranfield University, School of Water, Energy and Environment, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom; Kent Business School, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7FS, United Kingdom
| | - Ruben Sakrabani
- Cranfield University, School of Water, Energy and Environment, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Audrey Litterick
- Earthcare Technical Limited, Manor Farm, Chalton, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO8 0BG, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Snary
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Leinster
- Cranfield University, School of Water, Energy and Environment, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Nina Sweet
- Waste and Resources Action Programme, Second Floor, Blenheim Court, 19 George Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 5BH, United Kingdom
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Liu T, He J, Cui C, Tang J. Exploiting community structure, interactions and functional characteristics of fungi involved in the biodrying of storage sludge and beer lees. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 232:321-329. [PMID: 30496961 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.11.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the dynamic changes in fungal biodiversity, community structure, fungal associations and functional characteristics were investigated in the biodrying of storage sludge and beer lees by using high throughput sequencing, network and correlation matrix analyses, and FUNGuild database. Additionally, a hypothetical model was provided to better understand the biodrying system. The results showed that fungal diversity decreased after biodrying, while community richness increased in the mesophilic stage and decreased as biodrying progressed. Fungal communities differed in different stages of the biodrying process. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant phyla throughout the biodrying process, while Pichia was the dominant genus in the thermophilic stage. Network and correlation matrix analyses provided useful tools for insight into the fungal interactions, allowing us to propose a conceptual model of how succession in fungal associations regulates the dynamics of biodrying systems. Biodrying treatment had a significant effect on fungal trophic modes, with most pathogenic fungi fading away over the process, illustrating that biodrying is an effective bio-treatment method to eliminate pathogenic fungi. These findings provide information that elucidates the fungal interactions and functional characteristics during the biodrying process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Liu
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Junguo He
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China.
| | - Chongwei Cui
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
| | - Jian Tang
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, PR China
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Kuznetsova A, Cullingham C, McKenzie D, Aiken JM. Soil humic acids degrade CWD prions and reduce infectivity. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007414. [PMID: 30496301 PMCID: PMC6264147 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), an environmentally transmissible, fatal prion disease is endemic in North America, present in South Korea and has recently been confirmed in northern Europe. The expanding geographic range of this contagious disease of free-ranging deer, moose, elk and reindeer has resulted in increasing levels of prion infectivity in the environment. Soils are involved in CWD horizontal transmission, acting as an environmental reservoir, and soil mineral and organic compounds have the ability to bind prions. Upper horizons of soils are usually enriched with soil organic matter (SOM), however, the role of SOM in prion conservation and mobility remains unclear. In this study, we show that incubation of PrPCWD with humic acids (HA), a major SOM compound, affects both the molecular weight and recovery of PrPCWD. Detection of PrPCWD is reduced as HA concentration increases. Native HA extracted from pristine soils also reduces or entirely eliminates PrPCWD signal. Incubation of CWD prions with HA significantly increased incubation periods in tgElk mice demonstrating that HA can reduce CWD infectivity. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious prion disease affecting several species of captive and wild cervids. Environmental prion contamination plays a major role in increasing incidence of CWD, with CWD infectivity being released into the environment by decaying carcasses, or shedding of biological fluids including urine, feces, and saliva. Horizontal transmission of CWD involves soils as an environmental reservoir of infectivity. Here, we tested the role of a soil organic matter compound, humic acid, for its ability to bind CWD prions and impact infectivity. A wide range of humic acid concentrations were examined representing the extensive spectrum of humic acid levels present in native soils. We found that incubation of CWD prions with high concentrations of humic acids (>2.5 g L-1) decreases the both CWD-prion signal and infectivity, whereas lower levels of humic acids did not significantly impact protein stability or infectivity. Our study provides new insights into soil-prion interactions, prions persistence in soil, and their bioavailability to grazing animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alsu Kuznetsova
- Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Debbie McKenzie
- Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Judd M. Aiken
- Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Xu S, Amarakoon ID, Zaheer R, Smith A, Sura S, Wang G, Reuter T, Zvomuya F, Cessna AJ, Larney FJ, McAllister TA. Dissipation of antimicrobial resistance genes in compost originating from cattle manure after direct oral administration or post-excretion fortification of antimicrobials. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2018; 53:373-384. [PMID: 29215973 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2017.1404337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Dissipation of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) during composting of cattle manure generated through fortification versus administration of antimicrobials in feed was compared. Manure was collected from cattle fed diets containing (kg-1) dry matter (DM): (1) 44 mg chlortetracycline (CTC), (2) a mixture of 44 mg each of chlortetracycline and sulfamethazine (CTCSMZ), (3) 11 mg tylosin (TYL) or (4) Control, no antimicrobials. Manures were composted for 30 d with a single mixing after 16 d to generate the second heating cycle. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to measure 16S rDNA and tetracycline (tet), erythromycin (erm) and sulfamethazine (sul) genes. Temperature peaks ranged from 48 to 68°C across treatments in the first composting cycle, but except for the control, did not exceed 55°C in the second cycle. Copy numbers of 16S rDNA decreased (P < 0.05) during composting, but were not altered by antimcrobials. Except tet(L), all ARG decreased by 0.1-1.6 log10 g DM-1 in the first cycle, but some genes (tet[B], tet[L], erm[F], erm[X]) increased (P < 0.05) by 1.0-3.1 log10 g DM-1 in the second. During composting, levels of tet(M) and tet(W) in CTC, erm(A), erm(B) and erm(X) in TYL, and sul(1) in CTCSMZ remained higher (P < 0.05) in fed than fortified treatments. The dissipation of ARG during composting of manure fortified with antimicrobials differs from manure generated by cattle that are administered antimicrobials in feed, and does not always align with the dissipation of antimicrobial residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanwei Xu
- a Lethbridge Research and Development Centre , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , Lethbridge , Canada
| | - Inoka D Amarakoon
- b Department of Soil Science , University of Manitoba , Winnipeg , Canada
| | - Rahat Zaheer
- a Lethbridge Research and Development Centre , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , Lethbridge , Canada
| | - Alanna Smith
- a Lethbridge Research and Development Centre , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , Lethbridge , Canada
| | - Srinivas Sura
- c Cumming School of Medicine , University of Calgary , Calgary , Canada
| | - George Wang
- a Lethbridge Research and Development Centre , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , Lethbridge , Canada
| | - Tim Reuter
- d Alberta Agriculture and Forestry , Lethbridge , Canada
| | - Francis Zvomuya
- b Department of Soil Science , University of Manitoba , Winnipeg , Canada
| | - Allan J Cessna
- e Saskatoon Research and Development Centre , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , Saskatoon , Canada
| | - Francis J Larney
- a Lethbridge Research and Development Centre , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , Lethbridge , Canada
| | - Tim A McAllister
- a Lethbridge Research and Development Centre , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , Lethbridge , Canada
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Simmons M, Ru G, Casalone C, Iulini B, Cassar C, Seuberlich T. DISCONTOOLS: Identifying gaps in controlling bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Transbound Emerg Dis 2017; 65 Suppl 1:9-21. [PMID: 28795509 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This article summarizes the 2016 update of the DISCONTOOLS project gap analysis on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which was based on a combination of literature review and expert knowledge. Uncertainty still exists in relation to the pathogenesis, immunology and epidemiology of BSE, but provided that infected material is prohibited from entering the animal feed chain, cases should continue to decline. BSE does not appear to spread between cattle, but if new strains with this ability appear then control would be considerably more difficult. Atypical types of BSE (L-BSE and H-BSE) have been identified, which have different molecular patterns and pathology, and do not display the same clinical signs as classical BSE. Laboratory transmission experiments indicate that the L-BSE agent has zoonotic potential. There is no satisfactory conclusion regarding the origin of the BSE epidemic. C-BSE case numbers declined rapidly following strict controls banning ruminant protein in animal feed, but occasional cases still occur. It is unclear whether these more recent cases indicate inadequate implementation of the bans, or the possibility that C-BSE might occur spontaneously, as has been postulated for H- and L-BSE. All of this will have implications once existing bans and levels of surveillance are both relaxed. Immunochemical tests can only be applied post-mortem. There is no immunological basis for diagnosis in the live animal. All aspects of disease control are expensive, particularly surveillance, specified risk material removal and feed controls. There is pressure to relax feed controls, and concurrent pressure from other sources to reduce surveillance. While the cost benefit argument can be applied successfully to either of these approaches, it would be necessary to maintain the ban on intraspecies recycling and some baseline surveillance. However, the potential risk is not limited to intraspecies recycling; recycling with cross-species transmission may be an ideal way to select or/and modify properties of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies agents in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Simmons
- OIE, National and EU Reference Laboratory for BSE and Scrapie, Department of Pathology, APHA Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, UK
| | - G Ru
- CEA - National Reference Laboratory for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, OIE Reference Laboratories for BSE and Scrapie, Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Turin, Italy
| | - C Casalone
- CEA - National Reference Laboratory for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, OIE Reference Laboratories for BSE and Scrapie, Neuropathology Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Turin, Italy
| | - B Iulini
- CEA - National Reference Laboratory for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, OIE Reference Laboratories for BSE and Scrapie, Neuropathology Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Turin, Italy
| | - C Cassar
- OIE, National and EU Reference Laboratory for BSE and Scrapie, Department of Pathology, APHA Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, UK
| | - T Seuberlich
- NeuroCenter, OIE and National Reference Laboratories for BSE and Scrapie, Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, Bern, Switzerland
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10
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Ricci A, Allende A, Bolton D, Chemaly M, Davies R, Fernández Escámez PS, Gironés R, Herman L, Koutsoumanis K, Lindqvist R, Nørrung B, Robertson L, Sanaa M, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Snary E, Speybroeck N, Kuile BT, Threlfall J, Wahlström H, Adkin A, De Koeijer A, Ducrot C, Griffin J, Ortiz Pelaez A, Latronico F, Ru G. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases born after the total feed ban. EFSA J 2017; 15:e04885. [PMID: 32625550 PMCID: PMC7010122 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sixty bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases of Classical or unknown type (BARB‐60 cases) were born after the date of entry into force of the EU total feed ban on 1 January 2001. The European Commission has requested EFSA to provide a scientific opinion on the most likely origin(s) of these BARB‐60 cases; whether feeding with material contaminated with the BSE agent can be excluded as the origin of any of these cases and, if so, whether there is enough scientific evidence to conclude that such cases had a spontaneous origin. The source of infection cannot be ascertained at the individual level for any BSE case, including these BARB‐60 cases, so uncertainty remains high about the origin of disease in each of these animals, but when compared with other biologically plausible sources of infection (maternal, environmental, genetic, iatrogenic), feed‐borne exposure is the most likely. This exposure was apparently excluded for only one of these BARB‐60 cases. However, there is considerable uncertainty associated with the data collected through the field investigation of these cases, due to a time span of several years between the potential exposure of the animal and the confirmation of disease, recall difficulty, and the general paucity of documented objective evidence available in the farms at the time of the investigation. Thus, feeding with material contaminated with the BSE agent cannot be excluded as the origin of any of the BARB‐60 cases, nor is it possible to definitively attribute feed as the cause of any of the BARB‐60 cases. A case of disease is classified as spontaneous by a process of elimination, excluding all other definable possibilities; with regard to the BARB‐60 cases, it is not possible to conclude that any of them had a spontaneous origin.
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Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) affects cervids and is the only known prion disease readily transmitted among free-ranging wild animal populations in nature. The increasing spread and prevalence of CWD among cervid populations threaten the survival of deer and elk herds in North America, and potentially beyond. This review focuses on prion ecology, specifically that of CWD, and the current understanding of the role that the environment may play in disease propagation. We recount the discovery of CWD, discuss the role of the environment in indirect CWD transmission, and consider potentially relevant environmental reservoirs and vectors. We conclude by discussing how understanding the environmental persistence of CWD lends insight into transmission dynamics and potential management and mitigation strategies.
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Marín-Moreno A, Espinosa JC, Fernández-Borges N, Píquer J, Girones R, Andreoletti O, Torres JM. An assessment of the long-term persistence of prion infectivity in aquatic environments. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 151:587-594. [PMID: 27591838 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The environment plays a key role in horizontal transmission of prion diseases, since prions are extremely resistant to classical inactivation procedures. In prior work, we observed the high stability of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) infectivity when these prions were incubated in aqueous media such as phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or wastewater for nearly nine months. As a continuation of this experiment, the same samples were maintained in PBS or wastewater for five additional years and residual BSE infectivity was assessed in bovine PrPC transgenic mice. Over this long time period (more than six years), BSE infectivity was reduced by three and one orders of magnitude in wastewater and PBS respectively. To rule out a possible agent specific effect, sheep scrapie prions were subjected to the same experimental protocol, using eight years as the experimental end-point. No significant reduction in scrapie infectivity was observed over the first nine months of wastewater incubation while PBS incubation for eight years only produced a two logarithmic unit reduction in infectivity. By contrast, the dynamics of PrPRes persistence was different, disappearing progressively over the first year. The long persistence of prion infectivity observed in this study for two different agents provides supporting evidence of the assumed high stability of these agents in aquatic environments and that environmental processes or conventional wastewater treatments with low retention times would have little impact on prion infectivity. These results could have great repercussions in terms of risk assessment and safety for animals and human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Marín-Moreno
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Carretera Algete-El Casar S/n, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan-Carlos Espinosa
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Carretera Algete-El Casar S/n, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Fernández-Borges
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Carretera Algete-El Casar S/n, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Píquer
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Carretera Algete-El Casar S/n, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosina Girones
- Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olivier Andreoletti
- UMR INRA-ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôte Agent Pathogène, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Juan-María Torres
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Carretera Algete-El Casar S/n, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain.
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Xu S, Harvey A, Barbieri R, Reuter T, Stanford K, Amoako KK, Selinger LB, McAllister TA. Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis Spores during Laboratory-Scale Composting of Feedlot Cattle Manure. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:806. [PMID: 27303388 PMCID: PMC4882334 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthrax outbreaks in livestock have social, economic and health implications, altering farmer’s livelihoods, impacting trade and posing a zoonotic risk. Our study investigated the survival of Bacillus thuringiensis and B. anthracis spores sporulated at 15, 20, or 37°C, over 33 days of composting. Spores (∼7.5 log10 CFU g-1) were mixed with manure and composted in laboratory scale composters. After 15 days, the compost was mixed and returned to the composter for a second cycle. Temperatures peaked at 71°C on day 2 and remained ≥55°C for an average of 7 days in the first cycle, but did not exceed 55°C in the second. For B. thuringiensis, spores generated at 15 and 21°C exhibited reduced (P < 0.05) viability of 2.7 and 2.6 log10 CFU g-1 respectively, as compared to a 0.6 log10 CFU g-1 reduction for those generated at 37°C. For B. anthracis, sporulation temperature did not impact spore survival as there was a 2.5, 2.2, and 2.8 log10 CFU g-1 reduction after composting for spores generated at 15, 21, and 37°C, respectively. For both species, spore viability declined more rapidly (P < 0.05) in the first as compared to the second composting cycle. Our findings suggest that the duration of thermophilic exposure (≥55°C) is the main factor influencing survival of B. anthracis spores in compost. As sporulation temperature did not influence survival of B. anthracis, composting may lower the viability of spores associated with carcasses infected with B. anthracis over a range of sporulation temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanwei Xu
- Lethbridge Research and Develeopment Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Amanda Harvey
- Lethbridge Research and Develeopment Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, LethbridgeAB, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, LethbridgeAB, Canada
| | - Ruth Barbieri
- Lethbridge Research and Develeopment Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Tim Reuter
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Kim Stanford
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Kingsley K Amoako
- Lethbridge Laboratory, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, National Centres for Animal Disease, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Leonard B Selinger
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Tim A McAllister
- Lethbridge Research and Develeopment Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge AB, Canada
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Gilroyed BH, Conrad C, Hao X, McAllister TA, Stanford K, Reuter T. Composting for Biocontained Cattle Mortality Disposal and Associated Greenhouse Gas and Leachate Emissions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2016; 45:646-56. [PMID: 27065412 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2015.06.0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Composting can be an effective means of biodegrading livestock mortalities in emergency disposal situations, such as disease outbreaks. Within the past decade, our knowledge detailing composting has increased substantially. However, research data linking the environmental impact of composting to atmospheric and terrestrial systems are limited. We investigated composting efficacy, greenhouse gas emissions, and leachate properties from two static compost piles, each containing 16 cattle mortalities, built with either beef manure (BM) or wood shavings (WS) as envelope material. Wood shavings achieved a greater maximum temperature than BM (60 vs. 50°C) and maintained higher temperatures over 200 d ( < 0.001). Greenhouse gas emissions were evaluated using a static chamber and gas chromatography. Emissions of NO ( < 0.001), CH ( < 0.01), and CO ( < 0.05) were lower from WS than BM, resulting in 3-fold lower total CO equivalent emissions. After 250 d of composting, piles were relocated, and soil cores were taken (i) from beneath the piles, (ii) adjacent to the piles where leachate had accumulated, and (iii) in a control zone without compost exposure. Elevated concentrations of ammonium ( < 0.05) and chloride ( < 0.05) were found in soil beneath both BM and WS. Microbial DNA profiles suggested that leachate from BM compost increased bacterial diversity in soil, maintaining a biological soil impact after pile removal. Degradation of bovine mitochondrial DNA fragments was monitored by polymerase chain reaction. Limited migration of genetic bovine material from compost into soil was observed. Based on the mortalities decomposition and leachate contents, both BM and WS are suitable envelope materials for composting.
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Gilroyed BH, Braithwaite SL, Price LM, Reuter T, Czub S, Graham C, Balachandran A, McAllister TA, Belosevic M, Neumann NF. Application of protein misfolding cyclic amplification to detection of prions in anaerobic digestate. J Microbiol Methods 2015; 118:1-6. [PMID: 26272376 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2015.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The exceptional physio-chemical resistance of prions to established decontamination procedures poses a challenge to assessing the suitability of applied inactivation methods. Prion detection is limited by the sensitivity level of Western blotting or by the cost and time factors of bioassays. In addition, prion detection assays can be limited by either the unique or complex nature of matrices associated with environmental samples. To investigate anaerobic digestion (AD) as a practical and economical approach for potential conversion of specified risk materials (SRM) into value added products (i.e., renewable energy), challenges associated with detection of prions in a complex matrix need to be overcome to determine potential inactivation. Protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) assay, with subsequent Western blot visualization, was used to detect prions within the AD matrix. Anaerobic digestate initially inhibited the PMCA reaction and/or Western blot detection. However, at concentrations of ≤1% of anaerobic digestate, 263K scrapie prions could be amplified and semi-quantitatively detected. Infectious 263K prions were also proven to be bioavailable in the presence of high concentrations of digestate (10-90%). Development of the PMCA application to digestate provides extremely valuable insight into the potential degradation and/or fate of prions in complex biological matrices without requiring expensive and time-consuming bioassays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon H Gilroyed
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Ridgetown N0P 2C0, Canada.
| | | | - Luke M Price
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2T4, Canada
| | - Tim Reuter
- Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Lethbridge T1J 4V6, Canada
| | - Stefanie Czub
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge T1H 6P7, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Miodrag Belosevic
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2T4, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Norman F Neumann
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2T4, Canada; Alberta Provincial Laboratory for Public Health, Edmonton T6G 2J2, Canada
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Reuter T, Gilroyed B, Xu W, McAllister T, Stanford K. Compost biodegradation of recalcitrant hoof keratin by bacteria and fungi. J Appl Microbiol 2015; 119:425-34. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. Reuter
- Government of Alberta; Lethbridge AB Canada
| | | | - W. Xu
- Dalian University of Technology; Panjin China
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