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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2005, p. 5779-5786, Vol. 71, No. 10
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.10.5779-5786.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Long-Term Survival of Pathogenic and Sanitation Indicator Bacteria in Experimental Biowaste Composts

Mélanie Lemunier,1 Cédric Francou,2 Sandrine Rousseaux,1,{dagger} Sabine Houot,2 Philippe Dantigny,1 Pascal Piveteau,1* and Jean Guzzo1

Laboratoire de Microbiologie Equipe PG2MA, UMR INRA/Université de Bourgogne 1232, ENSBANA, 1 Esplanade Erasme, 21000 Dijon, France,1 UMR INRA/INA-PG Environnement et Grandes Cultures, 78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France2

Received 1 February 2005/ Accepted 10 May 2005

For economic, agricultural, and environmental reasons, composting is frequently used for organic waste recycling. One approach to limiting the potential risk from bacterial food-borne illnesses is to ensure that soil amendments and organic fertilizers are disinfected. However, more knowledge concerning the microbiological safety of composted substrates other than sludge and manure is necessary. Experimental in-vessel biowaste composts were used to study the survival of seeded Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Enteritidis, and Escherichia coli. Four organic waste mixtures, containing various proportions of paper and cardboard, fruits and vegetables, and green waste, were composted in laboratory reactors with forced aeration. The physicochemical and microbiological parameters were monitored for 12 weeks during composting. The survival of bacteria over a 3-month period at 25°C was assessed with samples collected after different experimental composting times. Strain survival was also monitored in mature sterilized composts. Nonsterile composts did not support pathogen growth, but survival of seeded pathogens was observed. Salmonella serovar Enteritidis survived in all composts, and longer survival (3 months) was observed in mature composts (8 and 12 weeks of composting). Mature biowaste composts may support long-term survival of Salmonella serovar Enteritidis during storage at room temperature. E. coli and L. monocytogenes survival was observed only in 4-week-old composts and never in older composts. Proper composting may prevent long-term survival of E. coli and L. monocytogenes. These results suggest that like composted sewage sludge or manure, domestic waste composts may support pathogen survival. Survival was not related to the physicochemical characteristics of the composts.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Laboratoire de Microbiologie, UMR INRA/UB 1232, ENSBANA, 1 Esplanade Erasme, 21000 Dijon, France. Phone: 33 3 80 39 68 93. Fax: 33 3 80 39 39 55. E-mail: piveteau{at}u-bourgogne.fr.

{dagger} Present address: UMR Microbiologie et Géochimie des Sols, CMSE INRA/Université de Bourgogne, 17 rue Sully, BP 86510, 21065 Dijon Cedex, France.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2005, p. 5779-5786, Vol. 71, No. 10
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.10.5779-5786.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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