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Pathogens
Both manure and animal carcasses contain pathogens (disease-causing organisms)
which can impact human health, other livestock, aquatic life, and wildlife
when introduced into the environment. Several pathogenic organisms found
in manure can infect humans.
Table 1. Some Diseases and Parasites Transmittable
to Humans from Animal Manure |
| Disease |
Responsible Organism |
Symptoms |
| Bacteria |
| Anthrax |
Bacillus anthracis |
Skin sores, fever, chills, lethargy, headache, nausea,
vomiting, shortness of breath, cough, nose/throat congestion, pneumonia,
joint stiffness, joint pain |
| Brucellosis |
Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis,
Brucella suis |
Weakness, lethargy, fever, chills, sweating, headache |
| Colibaciliosis |
Escherichia coli (some serotypes) |
Diarrhea, abdominal gas |
| Coliform mastitis-metritis |
Escherichia coli (some serotypes) |
Diarrhea, abdominal gas |
| Erysipelas |
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae |
Skin inflammation, rash, facial swelling, fever, chills,
sweating, joint stiffness, muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting |
| Leptospirosis |
Leptospira Pomona |
Abdominal pain, muscle pain, vomiting, fever |
| Listeriosis |
Listeria monocytogenes |
Fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea |
| Salmonellosis |
Salmonella species |
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, chills, fever, headache
|
| Tetanus |
Clostridium tetani |
Violent muscle spasms, “lockjaw” spasms
of jaw muscles, difficulty breathing |
| Tuberculosis |
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium
avium |
Cough, fatigue, fever, pain in chest, back, and/or kidneys |
| Rickettsia |
| Q fever |
Coxiella burneti |
Fever, headache, muscle pains, joint pain, dry cough,
chest pain, abdominal pain, jaundice |
| Viruses |
| Foot and Mouth |
Virus |
Rash, sore throat, fever |
| Hog Cholera |
Virus |
|
| New Castle |
Virus |
|
| Psittacosis |
Virus |
Pneumonia |
| Fungi |
| Coccidioidycosis |
Coccidioides immitus |
Cough, chest pain, fever, chills, sweating, headache,
muscle stiffness, joint stiffness, rash wheezing |
| Histoplasmosis |
Histoplasma capsulatum |
Fever, chills, muscle ache, muscle stiffness, cough,
rash, joint pain, join stiffness |
| Ringworm |
Various microsporum and trichophyton |
Itching, rash |
| Protozoa |
| Balantidiasis |
Balatidium coli |
|
| Coccidiosis |
Eimeria species |
Diarrhea, abdominal gas |
| Cryptosporidiosis |
Cryptosporidium species |
Watery diarrhea, dehydration, weakness, abdominal cramping |
| Giardiasis |
Giardia lamblia |
Diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal gas, nausea, vomiting,
headache, fever |
| Toxoplasmosis |
Toxoplasma species |
Headache, lethargy, seizures, reduced cognitive function |
| Parasites/Metazoa |
| Ascariasis |
Ascaris lumbricoides |
Worms in stool or vomit, fever, cough, abdominal pain,
bloody sputum, wheezing, skin rash, shortness of breath |
| Sarcocystiasis |
Sarcosystis species |
Fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain |
References: USDA, 1992 (for diseases and responsible organisms).
Symptom descriptions were obtained from various medical and public health
service Internet websites. Pathogens in animal manure are a potential source
of disease in humans and other animals. This list represents a sampling
of diseases that may be transmittable to humans.
The treatment of public water supplies reduces the risk of infection
via drinking water. However, protecting source water is the best way to
ensure safe drinking water. Cryptosporidium parvum, a protozoan that can
produce gastrointestinal illness, is a concern, since it is resistant
to conventional treatment. Healthy people typically recover relatively
quickly from such illnesses. However, they can be fatal in people with
weakened immune systems such as the elderly and small children.
Runoff from fields where manure has been applied can be a source of pathogen
contamination, particularly if a rainfall event occurs soon after application.
The natural filtering and adsorption action of soils typically strands
microorganisms in land-applied manure near the soil surface (Crane et
al., 1980). This protects underlying groundwater, but increases the likelihood
of runoff losses to surface waters. Depending on soil type and operating
conditions, however, subsurface flows can be a mechanism for pathogen
transport.
Soil type, manure application rate, and soil pH are dominating factors
in bacteria survival (Dazzo et al., 1973; Ellis and McCalla, 1976; Morrison
and Martin, 1977; Van Donsel et al., 1967). Experiments on land-applied
poultry manure have indicated that the population of fecal organisms decreases
rapidly as the manure is heated, dried, or exposed to sunlight on the
soil surface (Crane et al., 1980).
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