| Title: | Filth Fly Activity Associated With Composted and Noncomposted Beef Cadavers and Laboratory Studies on Volatile Organic Compounds |
| Author(s): | Dubie TR; Talley JL; Payne JB; Wayadande AW; Dillwith J; Richards C; |
| Address: | "Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, 127 Noble Research Center, Stillwater, OK 74078. Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, 310 North Monroe, Stillwater, OK 74078" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1938-2928 (Electronic) 0022-2585 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Commercial livestock facilities are faced with the challenge of managing large amounts of waste including manure and animal mortalities. One method of disposing of dead animals is composting. The cadavers are enveloped in carbon material that creates a barrier between the dead tissue and the surrounding environment. Dead tissue can release materials that not only contaminate the soil but also the groundwater and nearby surface water. Animal cadaver composting is designed to facilitate decomposition without the aid of carrion-feeding insects and reduce the presence of common pathogens associated with animal waste and dead tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate insect activity associated with composted and exposed beef cadavers, specifically filth flies that can serve as mechanical vectors of important human pathogens such as E. coli 0157:H7. Greater numbers of all types of arthropods were trapped overall at the exposed animal site than the composted animal site. Most importantly, the number of filth flies was significantly lower at the composted site (P = 0.0009). Laboratory analysis of volatile organic compounds from composted and noncomposted rats indicated that known fly attractants such as dimethyl disulfide may be inhibited by the composting process. Implementing composting programs at livestock facilities could reduce the risk of flies spreading harmful pathogens to surrounding areas, including farms that grow fresh produce" |
| Keywords: | Animal Husbandry/*methods Animals Cadaver *Cattle Diptera/*physiology Muscidae/physiology Population Dynamics Refuse Disposal/*methods Sarcophagidae/physiology Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis Calliphoridae Muscidae bovine cadaver carcass disposal dec; |
| Notes: | "MedlineDubie, T R Talley, J L Payne, J B Wayadande, A W Dillwith, J Richards, C eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2017/04/12 J Med Entomol. 2017 Sep 1; 54(5):1299-1304. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjx073" |
