Pathogen Analysis of
Quarterly Progress Report #1
By:
Jean Bonhotal
Mary Schwarz
Submitted to:
Elisabeth Kolb
NYSDOT Region 8
Transportation
Infrastructure Research Consortium (TIRC)
CWMI Quarterly
Progress Report:
Pathogen
Analysis of
Subtask 1.1
·
Teleconference in
v In attendance:
o CWMI - Ellen Harrison, Jean Bonhotal and Mary Schwarz
o Woods End Research Lab – Will Britton, Pam Storms
v Purpose: to discuss the bacterial monitoring component of the Road kill composting project
· A meeting was held on Sept 21, 2005 involving CWMI, Cornell Veterinary College faculty, the Technical Working Group (TWG) and Woods End Research Laboratory (WERL) to discuss pathogen monitoring. (see subtask 5.1 for details)
·
Follow-up consultation was held through contacts
with EPA, USDA and faculty at
v Pat Millner, USDA
v
Sue Stehman,
v
Pat McDonough,
v Jim Smith, EPA
· As a result of this research and consultation, these pathogens were selected for study:
v Escherichia coli/Fecal coliforms
v Fecal Streptococcus/Enterococci
v Salmonella spp.
v Mycobacterium avian paratuberculosis (MAP)
· It was decided to use actual deer intestinal contents to measure the pathogens (all but MAP) to better represent pathogen kill in the compost piles. Use of intestinal contents allows for monitoring of real (vs. lab-reared) pathogens and provides a way to monitor at the time the piles are created and periodically throughout the composting period.
· A summary of the rational for the selection of these pathogens has been prepared.
·
A test of the method of preparing sample bags
with intestinal contents was done on
· Arrangements were made to obtain Johnes positive manure (MAP) from the Johnes laboratory at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Subtask 1.2
· Literature on prevalence of pathogens in wildlife and on the conditions associated with their inactivation was located and reviewed.
· All literature reviewed has been put into an electronic file (Endnote) and a draft summary of the findings is in progress.
Task 2: Establish Compost Piles
Subtask 2.1
· Working with the TWG, CWMI identified the locations for establishing the 3 pilot demonstration piles. The sites were chosen based on:
v Availability of a suitable site
v Availability of wood chips
v Suitability of the location for demonstration programs
v The commitment of one or more local DOT staff
v Representation of different climatic areas of the state.
· The following sites were chosen:
v
v
v
Subtask 2.2
·
Pilot piles were built in
·
The pilot pile in
·
Three replicate research piles were built and
seeded with intestinal contents and MAP in sentinel bags on
· Data loggers (Hobo) with 4 temperature probes were set up for all 6 piles to monitor the pile temperature in 3 different locations and the ambient temperature of the site.
Task 3: Investigate Pathogen Concentrations and Compost Characteristics
Subtask 3.1
·
Woods End Research Laboratory (WERL) in
· The Johnes laboratory at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine was selected to analyze the manure for Mycobacterium avian paratuberculosis.
Subtask 3.2
· Replicate samples of wood chips were sampled from the 3 pilot piles and the 3 research piles when they were built and sent to WERL for pathogen analysis. A schedule has been established for compost sampling for months 3, 6, 9 and 12.
·
Temperature data from the data logger at the
· DOT personnel at all pilot sites are taking occasional temperatures with a thermometer to monitor pile temperatures and are watching the data logger to make sure it is still working.
· Day 0 intestinal contents were sampled (5 samples taken at random when preparing the bags to put in the carcasses) and sent to WERL for analysis.
· Day 0 Johnes manure was sampled (9 samples taken at random when preparing the bags to put in the carcasses) and taken to Cornell’s Johnes lab for analysis.
·
Temperature data from the data loggers in the 3
research piles was downloaded on
·
Three intestinal content bags and 3 MAP bags
were pulled from each of the three research piles on
·
Three intestinal content bags and 3 MAP bags
were pulled from each of the three research piles on
Subtask 3.3
· All data collected thus far (temperature and pathogen data) has been entered into Microsoft excel to be analyzed using statistical measures when all data has been collected.
Task 4: Outreach and Guidance to Facilitate Implementation of Composting Road Kill Deer
Subtask 4.1
·
Video footage was taken during the construction
of the pilot pile at
Subtask 4.2
· DOT staff participated in the pile building at the pilot sites
Task 5: Progress and Final Reports
Subtask 5.1
·
Meeting held in
v In attendance:
o CWMI - Ellen Harrison, Jean Bonhotal and Mary Schwarz
o
o DEC - Alan Woodard and Sally Rowland
o ILR workplace health and safety - Nellie Brown
o Woods End Research Lab – Will Britton
o NYS DOT – Elisabeth Kolb and Kyle Williams
v Purpose: to discuss the bacterial monitoring component of the Road kill composting project with NYSDOT
·
Meeting held in
v In attendance:
o CWMI - Ellen Harrison and Jean Bonhotal
o DEC - Alan Woodard and Sally Rowland
o NYS DOT – Elisabeth Kolb, Kyle Williams, Pete Howard, John Rowan, Dennis Pawlicki and Tim Baker
o NYS DOH - Dziewulski
v Purpose: to discuss bacterial monitoring, site location, what is needed of who and sampling for the Road kill composting project with NYSDOT
·
Meeting scheduled for