Author
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Whitehead, Terence |
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Zeltwanger, Rhonda |
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Cotta, Michael |
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Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Odor emanating from anaerobic lagoons and swine production facilities has increased the tension among rural neighbors and among urban and rural residents. Storage of swine waste is associated with the production of a variety of odorous compounds, including ammonia, organic acids and alcohols, and sulfides. Although the generation of these chemicals is the result of microbiological activity, little is known about the types of microorganisms responsible for their production. We have initiated an approach to determine the predominant bacterial population present in both pig feces and waste storage pits. Total DNA was isolated from these ecosystems. DNA sequence analyses of PCR amplified 16S rDNA genes derived from eubacterial, archaebacterial, and eucaryotic primers were carried out. Similarity analyses of the 16S sequences indicated the presence of primarily low G+C Gram-positive bacteria, such as Clostridial sp., Streptococcal sp., and Lactobacillus sp. in both ecosystems. Many of the sequences were of unidentified microorganisms. A variety of methanogenic archaebacteria were identified from the pit DNA, including those similar to Methanobrevibacter sp., Methanocorpusculum sp., and Methanoculleus sp. A large number of unidentified sequences were also found. A parallel project is also underway to compare characterized pure isolates from each ecosystem with the microorganisms identified by the 16S analyses. |
