Physical and chemical indicators of transformations of poultry carcass parts and broiler litter during short term thermophilic composting

Phenylalanine treatment induces tomato resistance to Tuta absoluta via increased accumulation of benzenoid/phenylpropanoid volatiles serving as defense signals

Tuta absoluta ("leafminer"), is a major pest of tomato crops worldwide. Controlling this insect is difficult due to its efficient infestation, rapid proliferation, and resilience to changing weather conditions. Furthermore, chemical pesticides have only a short-term effect due to rapid development of T. absoluta strains. Here, we show that a variety of tomato cultivars, treated with external phenylalanine solutions exhibit high resistance to T. absoluta, under both greenhouse and open field conditions, at different locations. A large-scale metabolomic study revealed that tomato leaves absorb and metabolize externally given Phe efficiently, resulting in a change in their volatile profile, and repellence of T. absoluta moths. The change in the volatile profile is due to an increase in three phenylalanine-derived benzenoid phenylpropanoid volatiles (BPVs), benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, and 2-phenylethanol. This treatment had no effect on terpenes and green leaf volatiles, known to contribute to the fight against insects. Phe-treated plants also increased the resistance of neighboring non-treated plants. RNAseq analysis of the neighboring non-treated plants revealed an exclusive upregulation of genes, with enrichment of genes related to the plant immune response system. Exposure of tomato plants to either benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, or 2-phenylethanol, resulted in induction of genes related to the plant immune system that were also induced due to neighboring Phe-treated plants. We suggest a novel role of phenylalanine-derived BPVs as mediators of plant-insect interactions, acting as inducers of the plant defense mechanisms.

Utilization of polyethylene sleeves with forced aeration for composting of broiler carcasses on mass depopulation events: Laboratory-scale simulations and sensitivity analyses

Composting poultry carcasses and the infected litter is considered feasible during mass depopulation events in response to disease outbreaks. We demonstrate the effect of temperature (40, 50, 60 °C) and aerobic/anaerobic conditions on the degradation of broiler carcasses and broiler litter (BL) and the elimination of pre-inoculated Avian flu and Newcastle viruses and SalmonellaInfantis (3.3 × 10^5.6 EID₅₀, 7 × 10^6.0 EID₅₀ and 2 × 10⁷ CFU g-dry matter (DM)^-1, respectively). Six broiler carcasses and BL were inoculated and treated with a water-based foam, simulating a common culling method. After 30 days of composting, both viruses were eliminated under all conditions, whileSalmonellapersisted at 40 °C under aerobic and anaerobic conditions (7.4 × 10⁵and 4.4 × 10³CFU g-DM^-1, respectively). Mass losses were 42-44, 24-26, and 18-22% (aerobic) and 18-27, 21-23, and 0-7% (anaerobic) at 40, 50, and 60 °C, respectively. In the end, the associated odors were not typical of carcasses (aerobic), or they were strong and offensive (anaerobic). Considering the observed mass losses and biomass water holding capacity, we present a sensitivity analysis of the water balance expected in composting sleeves if they are utilized on mass depopulation events. Composting of the carcasses and the BL in enclosed sleeves with forced aeration, following culling by means of water-based foam will generate excess water, depending on sleeve volumes, aeration conditions, and co-addition of absorbing materials like sawdust. No excessive moisture is expected if dry culling methods are used.

A Combined Field–Lab Approach for Assessing Salmonella Infantis Persistence in Broiler Litter in a Stockpile and Composting Sleeve

Broiler litter (BL) is often contaminated by a variety of zoonotic pathogens. This study attempts to assess the persistence of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis (S. Infantis) in BL based on spatial and temporal variation of physicochemical properties in a stockpile and composting sleeve. A single trial of two pilot-scale setups, ~35 m3 each, included an open static pile (stockpile) and composting in a polyethylene sleeve with forced aeration. The initial water content was adjusted only for the sleeve (~50% w/w) as in a common composting practice. Both systems were monitored weekly and then biweekly during 2 months in 47–53 sampling points each on every campaign. Measurements included temperature, water content, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), gas-phase oxygen, and ammonia, and the collected data were used to construct multiple contour grid maps. Of the stockpile volume, 83, 71, and 62% did not reach the commonly required minimum temperature of 55°C for three consecutive days during the first, second, and third weeks, respectively. Oxygen levels showed a strong gradient across the stockpile, while anaerobic conditions prevailed in the core. Variation was also recorded within the sleeve, but due to the water content adjustment and active aeration, the conditions favored more intense degradation and higher temperatures. Combining the grid maps drawn in this study with decay rate constants recently published for S. Infantis in BL under 36 combinations of temperature, water content, and pH, we assessed the spatial persistence of S. Infantis in the stockpile and the sleeve. Temperature was shown as a major factor, while water content and pH had only a small effect, in the stockpile only. Co-correlations between temperature, water content, EC, and oxygen suggest that selected physicochemical properties may be sufficient for such assessments. Up to 3 weeks would be recommended to achieve 7–8 log10 reduction in Salmonella in a stockpile, while this would be fully achieved within 1 week in a sleeve. This approach of combining high-resolution spatial field sampling along with decay rates of pathogens under controlled lab conditions may improve quantitative microbial risk assessments and future regulations of manure utilization.

Use of Tannin-Containing Plants as Antimicrobials Influencing the Animal Health

The antimicrobial effects of diverse tannin-containing plants, particularly condensed tannins (CTs) produced from various plants, are the subject of this study. CT components can be determined using CT-specific procedures such the HCl-Butanol Acetone assay, Thiolysis reaction, and HPLC/MS analysis. These methods indicate CT contents, including mean degree of polymerization, the procyanidins and prodelphinidins ratio (PC/PD%), the isomers of trans- and cis-, and CT concentration. Tannin-containing plants possess antibacterial action, which can be attributed to their protein linkage technique, and tannin-type variations, particularly CTs extract and their PC/PD%. The effects of CT components on the development of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria have been documented for their relative PC/PD%; this is regarded to be a key predictor of tannin characteristics in terms of antimicrobials. In conclusion, tannins, more specific CT compositions, have significant impacts on in vivo trials of animal productions and utilization of metabolites and fermentation in vitro experiments. These findings need further investigations to fully understand how CT-types act on animal feeding in terms of enhanced nutritional quality of animal diets, which may have implications for human and animal health.