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Screening Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Clostridium perfringens as Indicator Organisms in Evaluating Pathogen-Reducing Capacity in Biogas Plants

  • Environmental Microbiology
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Abstract

This study was conducted to identify an indicator organism(s) in evaluating the pathogen-reducing capacity of biogas plants. Fresh cow manure containing 104 to 105 colony forming unit (CFU) per milliliter of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis along with an inoculated Clostridium perfringens strain were exposed to 37°C for 15 days, 55°C for 48 h, and 70°C for 24 h. C. perfringens was the most heat-resistant organism followed by E. faecalis, while E. coli was the most heat-sensitive organism. E. coli was reduced below detection limit at all temperatures with log10 reductions of 4.94 (10 s), 4.37 (40 min), and 2.6 (5 days) at 70°C, 55°C, and 37°C, respectively. Maximum log10 reductions for E. faecalis were 1.77 at 70°C (1 day), 1.7 at 55°C (2 days) and 3.13 at 37°C (15 days). For C. perfringens, maximum log10 reduction at 37°C was 1.35 log10 units (15 days) compared to less than 1 unit at 55 and 70°C. Modeling results showed that E. faecalis and C. perfringens had higher amount of heat-resistant fraction than E. coli. Thus, E. faecalis and C. perfringens can be used as indicator organisms to evaluate pathogen-reducing capacity in biogas plants at high temperatures of 55°C and 70°C while at 37°C E. coli could also be included as indicator organism.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Dimitar Karakashev, Hector Garcia, A. Dilokpimol, V. Siriwongrungson, and Dawei Liu from the Technical University of Denmark and I. B. Jensen from Statens Serum Institute, Denmark for their technical support to this research.

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Author notes

  1. Montira Watcharasukarn

    Present address: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

  2. Jean-Philippe Steyer

    Present address: INRA, UR050, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l’Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne, 11100, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 115, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

    Montira Watcharasukarn, Prasad Kaparaju, Jean-Philippe Steyer & Irini Angelidaki

  2. Department of Bacteriology, Mycology and Parasitology, Statens Serum Institute, Artilerivej 5, 2300 S, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Karen A. Krogfelt

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  1. Montira Watcharasukarn
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Correspondence to Irini Angelidaki.

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Watcharasukarn, M., Kaparaju, P., Steyer, JP. et al. Screening Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Clostridium perfringens as Indicator Organisms in Evaluating Pathogen-Reducing Capacity in Biogas Plants. Microb Ecol 58, 221–230 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-009-9497-9

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