Microbial Reservoirs and Dispersal Mechanisms

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2021) | Viewed by 7233

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, College Station, TX 77845-4988, USA
Interests: foodborne pathogens; microbial ecological reservoirs; pathogen dispersal mechanisms; insect-microbe interactions

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Co-Guest Editor
Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Interests: microbial pathogenesis; microbial ecology; insect-microbe interactions; one-health approaches; environmental pathogens; non-tuberculosis mycobacteria
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The topic of microbial reservoirs and dispersal mechanisms provides a publication platform to consolidate research on the spatial and temporal dispersal of microbes. It encompasses man-made objects, as well as biological vectors, that facilitate microbial transmission around industrial facilities and within natural settings. It includes the characterization of reservoirs that sustain microbial organisms and the interactions that enable their dissemination.

For example, there is a dearth of knowledge concerning the viability of pathogens on various surface types. The spread of pathogens in the environment can occur by many routes, including by mechanical means, such as by vehicles, equipment and containers moving between production facilities or natural environments.  Dispersal can be facilitated by biological organisms, such as flies, beetles, cockroaches, small mammals, etc., found inhabiting hospitals, restaurants, and livestock, poultry, insect protein and crop production facilities. Additionally, the production and environmental elements such as litter, soils, decomposing carrion, plant and food wastes can harbor harmful and beneficial microbial organisms and act as reservoirs that sustain microbial organisms until spread by other means. This is an extremely important topic as one must understand the mechanisms of dispersal in order to mitigate disease outbreaks or enhance beneficial organisms. It should be of particular interest to health and regulatory individuals as well as herd health/state veterinarians and epidemiologists, forensic scientists, producers and biologists. It includes topics such as wildlife – urban wildlife interface, pollution; domestic animals – interactions in the household; agricultural – growth, processing, retail, wastes; urban – restaurants, hospitals, household; industrial – production, retail, sludge/reclamation.

Dr. Tawni L. Crippen
Dr. Heather Jordan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • harmful and beneficial microbial organisms
  • spatial and temporal dispersal
  • environmental reservoirs
  • surface viability
  • insect-microbe interactions
  • biological vectoring

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2260 KiB  
Article
Adult Alphitobius diaperinus Microbial Community during Broiler Production and in Spent Litter after Stockpiling
by Tawni L. Crippen, Baneshwar Singh, Robin C. Anderson and Cynthia L. Sheffield
Microorganisms 2022, 10(1), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10010175 - 14 Jan 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2368
Abstract
The facilities used to raise broiler chickens are often infested with litter beetles (lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus). These beetles have been studied for their carriage of pathogenic microbes; however, a more comprehensive microbiome study on these arthropods is lacking. This study investigated [...] Read more.
The facilities used to raise broiler chickens are often infested with litter beetles (lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus). These beetles have been studied for their carriage of pathogenic microbes; however, a more comprehensive microbiome study on these arthropods is lacking. This study investigated their microbial community in a longitudinal study throughout 2.5 years of poultry production and after the spent litter, containing the mealworms, was piled in pastureland for use as fertilizer. The mean most abundant phyla harbored by the beetles in house were the Proteobacteria (39.8%), then Firmicutes (30.8%), Actinobacteria (21.1%), Tenericutes (5.1%), and Bacteroidetes (1.6%). The community showed a modest decrease in Firmicutes and increase in Proteobacteria over successive flock rotations. The beetles were relocated within the spent litter to pastureland, where they were found at least 19 weeks later. Over time in the pastureland, their microbial profile underwent a large decrease in the percent of Firmicutes (20.5%). The lesser mealworm showed an ability to survive long-term in the open environment within the spent litter, where their microbiome should be further assessed to both reduce the risk of transferring harmful bacteria, as well as to enhance their contribution when the litter is used as a fertilizer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Reservoirs and Dispersal Mechanisms)
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12 pages, 240 KiB  
Article
The Stable Fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) as a Possible Vector Transmitting Pathogens in Austrian Pig Farms
by Lukas Schwarz, Andreas Strauss, Igor Loncaric, Joachim Spergser, Angelika Auer, Till Rümenapf and Andrea Ladinig
Microorganisms 2020, 8(10), 1476; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8101476 - 25 Sep 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4104
Abstract
This pilot study aimed to investigate stable flies from Austrian pig farms for the presence of defined swine pathogens, such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), hemotrophic mycoplasmas in ingested blood and/or body parts and bacteria on [...] Read more.
This pilot study aimed to investigate stable flies from Austrian pig farms for the presence of defined swine pathogens, such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), hemotrophic mycoplasmas in ingested blood and/or body parts and bacteria on the surface of the flies. Furthermore, the use of stable flies as a diagnostic matrix for the detection of pathogens in the ingested pig blood should be investigated. In total, 69 different microorganisms could be found on the surface of tested S. calcitrans from 20 different pig farms. Escherichia coli was the most common bacterium and could be found on flies from seven farms. In seven farms, hemotrophic mycoplasmas were detected in stable flies. PRRSV could not be found in any of the samples of these 20 farms but PCV2 was detected in six farms. Whether the stable fly can be used as a matrix to monitor the health status cannot be accurately determined through this study, especially in regard to PRRSV. Nevertheless, it might be possible to use the stable fly as diagnostic material for defined pathogens like Mycoplasma suis and PCV2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Reservoirs and Dispersal Mechanisms)
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