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Fate of Clostridium botulinum and incidence of pathogenic clostridia in biogas processes
Author(s) -
Fröschle B.,
Messelhäusser U.,
Höller C.,
Lebuhn M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.12909
Subject(s) - clostridia , clostridium botulinum , clostridium difficile , clostridium , clostridium sporogenes , clostridiaceae , anaerobic digestion , microbiology and biotechnology , biogas , digestate , clostridium butyricum , biology , food science , veterinary medicine , medicine , bacteria , methane , antibiotics , genetics , ecology , fermentation , toxin
Aims This study aimed to assess the sanitary situation in agricultural biogas plants (BP) regarding pathogenic Clostridium spp. Methods and Results The incidence of Clostridium botulinum , Clostridium difficile , Clostridium novyi , Clostridium haemolyticum , Clostridium septicum and Clostridium chauvoei was investigated in 154 plant and animal substrates, digester sludges and digestates from full‐scale BP using a method combining microbial enrichment with Real‐Time PCR. The investigated clostridia were absent in the samples, except for Cl. novyi that was barely present (3·9%) and Cl. difficile that was more frequently detected (44·8%). Clostridium botulinum exposed to lab‐scale digesters in sentinel chambers was reduced with D ‐values of 34·6 ± 11·2 days at 38°C and 1·0 ± 0·2 days at 55°C. Conclusions These findings indicate minor relevance of clostridial pathogens in BP and an improved sanitary quality of the digestion product compared to untreated substrates concerning Cl. botulinum . However, the frequent detection of Cl. difficile opens questions on the durability of this organism in manure digestion lines. Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first study providing data on the reduction of Cl. botulinum during biogas processes that scientifically invalidate contrary claims by some media in the public. Furthermore, the results improve the fragmentary knowledge on the prevalence of several clostridial pathogens in agricultural biogas production.