Source identification and quantification of particulate matter emitted from livestock houses

There is need to identify and quantify the contribution of different sources to airborne particulate matter (PM) emissions from animal houses. To this end, we compared the chemical and morphological characteristics of fine and coarse PM from known sources collected from animal houses with the characteristics of on-farm fine and coarse airborne PM using two methods: classification rules based on decision trees and multiple linear regression. Fourteen different farms corresponding to seven different housing systems for poultry and pigs were sampled during winter. A total of 28 fine and 28 coarse on-farm airborne PM samples were collected, together with a representative sample of each known source per farm (56 known source samples in total). Source contributions were calculated as relative percentage contributions in particle numbers and then estimated in particle mass. Based on particle numbers, results showed that in poultry houses, most on-farm airborne PM originated from feathers (ranging from 4% to 43% in fine PM and from 6% to 35% in coarse PM) and manure (ranging from 9% to 85% in fine PM and from 30% to 94% in coarse PM). For pigs, most on-farm airborne PM originated from manure (ranging from 70% to 98% in fine PM and from 41% to 94% in coarse PM). Based on particle mass, for poultry most on-farm airborne PM still originated from feathers and manure; for pigs, however, most PM originated from skin and manure. Feed had a negligible contribution to on-farm airborne PM compared with other sources. Results presented in this study improve the understanding of sources of PM in different animal housing systems, which may be valuable when choosing optimal PM reduction technique

Measures to reduce fine dust emission from poultry houses: reduction from broiler houses by ionization

In this study the effect was determined of a commercially available air ionization system on the reduction of airborne dust in a broiler house. Results showed a reduction, based on particle mass, of 36% and 10% for PM10 and PM2.5, respectivel

Options for dust reduction from poultry houses

Large poultry houses emit high amounts of fine dust (PM10) and in many cases they exceed the ambient air quality standard set by the EU. Technologies for PM10 reduction need to be developed on short term to minimize PM10 emissions from poultry houses. Studied options for dust reduction were: application of an oil film on the litter and application of an ionization system. Rapeseed oil was sprayed daily in a quantity of 8 to 24 ml/m2 in broiler houses and 20 ml/m2 in layer houses. The ionization system was applied in a broiler house and had a voltage difference of -30kV, with a current of approximately 0.7 mA. Daily emissions of PM10 particles were determined at regular intervals by measuring concentrations at the ventilation inlet and outlet and by measuring the airflow rate. For the oil system PM10 emission reductions were in the ranges of 55 – 85% in broilers and 25 – 40% in layers. The ionization system, applied in broilers, reduced PM10 emission on average by 36%

Criteria for efficient prevention of dissemination and successful eradication of Erwinia amylovora (the cause of fire blight) in Aragón, Spain

Erwinia amylovora was detected on pome fruits in the Aragón region (North-Eastern Spain), in a ca. 5 km radius area located in the mid Jalón river (mid Ebro Valley) in the province of Zaragoza, during 2000‒2003. Eight years have now passed since this pathogen was last detected, without new infections being reported in the same area. The bases for surveys and rapid eradication performed have been analyzed in detail to understand the reasons for the success in removing fireblight. The results demonstrate that intensive surveillance, risk assessment, plant analyses using accurate identification methods, and, especially, rapid total or selective eradication of infected trees in the plots have been very effective in preventing the generalized spread of fireblight and in delaying economic losses associated with this disease. Eradication and compensation to growers, estimated to cost approx. € 467,000, were clearly counterbalanced by the economic value of apple and pear production in the 2000‒2003 period (approx. € 368 million). Fire blight risk-assessment, using the MARYBLYT system, showed that climatic conditions in the studied area were favourable to infections during the analyzed period (1997‒2006). Molecular characterization of E. amylovora strains had revealed their homogeneity, suggesting that these fire blight episodes could have been caused by just one inoculum source, supporting the hypothesis that there was a unique introduction of E. amylovora in the studied area. Spatial spread of E. amylovora to trees was analyzed within six orchards, indicating an aggregated distribution model. This Spanish experience demonstrates the success of scientifically-based prevention methods that lead to the deployment of a fast and strict containment strategy, useful for other Mediterranean areassurveysrisk-assessmentspatial analysisstrain characterizationPublishe

Maatregelen ter vermindering van fijnstofemissie uit de pluimveehouderij: optimalisatie van een oliefilmsysteem bij vleeskuikens = Measures to reduce fine dust emission from poultry: optimization of an oil spraying system for broilers

The effects of oil dose, spraying frequency and of technical optimizations of an oil spraying system on the reduction of fine dust were studied. Daily application of 8 to 15 ml of oil per m2 of bedding up from day 21 of the production cycle resulted in a 60% and 80% reduction of PM10 and PM2.5 emission, based on particle mass. Technical optimizations substantially reduced oil droplet

Innovative tools for detection of plant pathogenic viruses and bacteria

Detection of harmful viruses and bacteria in plant material, vectors or natural reservoirs is essential to ensure safe and sustainable agriculture. The techniques available have evolved significantly in the last few years to achieve rapid and reliable detection of pathogens, extraction of the target from the sample being important for optimising detection. For viruses, sample preparation has been simplified by imprinting or squashing plant material or insect vectors onto membranes. To improve the sensitivity of techniques for bacterial detection, a prior enrichment step in liquid or solid medium is advised. Serological and molecular techniques are currently the most appropriate when high numbers of samples need to be analysed. Specific monoclonal and/or recombinant antibodies are available for many plant pathogens and have contributed to the specificity of serological detection. Molecular detection can be optimised through the automatic purification of nucleic acids from pathogens by columns or robotics. New variants of PCR, such as simple or multiplex nested PCR in a single closed tube, co-operative- PCR and real-time monitoring of amplicons or quantitative PCR, allow high sensitivity in the detection of one or several pathogens in a single assay. The latest development in the analysis of nucleic acids is microarray technology, but it requires generic DNA/RNA extraction and pre-amplification methods to increase detection sensitivity. The advances in research that will result from the sequencing of many plant pathogen genomes, especially now in the era of proteomics, represent a new source of information for the future development of sensitive and specific detection techniques for these microorganisms

Construction and validation of a low-cost system for indoor air quality measurements in livestock facilities

In recent years, there has been an increase in demand for food of ani-mal origin. The number of intensive production systems such as pig and poultry farming has been increasing more and more and exerting great impacts on the environment, due to a large amount of particulate material and gaseous pollutants that are generated within these facilities. Thus, low-cost devices emerge as a cheap alternative that provides farmers with information on indoor air quality in its facilities. However, it is important that these devices make precise and accu-rate measurements, providing reliable concentration readings. Therefore, the ob-jective of this study is the construction and validation of a low-cost system capa-ble of measuring, storing and sending, via the mobile network, the concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, and relative humidity. Preliminary inter-comparison tests showed that the built sys-tem had a reliable behavior in relation to all variables, even though the CO2 sen-sor was the one with the highest determination coefficient. The built device is able to provide continuous monitoring of atmospheric pollutants concentrations, at low cost and with simple handling.This study was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under the PT2020 Program through financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013) and by the bilateral project established between the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Portugal) and the Federal University of Technology – Paraná (Brazil).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Detección de Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni mediante inmunocaptura magnética y PCR en tiempo real: póster

PublishedTrabajo financiado por el Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), proyecto RTA2011-00140-C03-02 y por la Red CYTED FRUT-SAN 112RT044

Criteria for efficient prevention of dissemination and successful eradication of Erwinia amylovora (the cause of fire blight) in Aragon, Spain

Erwinia amylovora was detected on pome fruits in the Aragon region (North-Eastern Spain), in a ca. 5 km radius area located in the mid Jalon river (mid Ebro Valley) in the province of Zaragoza, during 2000-2003. Eight years have now passed since this pathogen was last detected, without new infections being reported in the same area. The bases for surveys and rapid eradication performed have been analyzed in detail to understand the reasons for the success in removing fireblight. The results demonstrate that intensive surveillance, risk assessment, plant analyses using accurate identification methods, and, especially, rapid total or selective eradication of infected trees in the plots have been very effective in preventing the generalized spread of fireblight and in delaying economic losses associated with this disease. Eradication and compensation to growers, estimated to cost approx. (sic) 467,000, were clearly counterbalanced by the economic value of apple and pear production in the 2000-2003 period (approx. (sic) 368 million). Fire blight risk-assessment, using the MARYBLYT system, showed that climatic conditions in the studied area were favourable to infections during the analyzed period (1997-2006). Molecular characterization of E. amylovora strains had revealed their homogeneity, suggesting that these fire blight episodes could have been caused by just one inoculum source, supporting the hypothesis that there was a unique introduction of E. amylovora in the studied area. Spatial spread of E. amylovora to trees was analyzed within six orchards, indicating an aggregated distribution model. This Spanish experience demonstrates the success of scientifically-based prevention methods that lead to the deployment of a fast and strict containment strategy, useful for other Mediterranean areas

Criteria for efficient prevention of dissemination and successful eradication of Erwinia amylovora (the cause of fire blight) in Aragon, Spain

Erwinia amylovora was detected on pome fruits in the Aragon region (North-Eastern Spain), in a ca. 5 km radius area located in the mid Jalon river (mid Ebro Valley) in the province of Zaragoza, during 2000-2003. Eight years have now passed since this pathogen was last detected, without new infections being reported in the same area. The bases for surveys and rapid eradication performed have been analyzed in detail to understand the reasons for the success in removing fireblight. The results demonstrate that intensive surveillance, risk assessment, plant analyses using accurate identification methods, and, especially, rapid total or selective eradication of infected trees in the plots have been very effective in preventing the generalized spread of fireblight and in delaying economic losses associated with this disease. Eradication and compensation to growers, estimated to cost approx. (sic) 467,000, were clearly counterbalanced by the economic value of apple and pear production in the 2000-2003 period (approx. (sic) 368 million). Fire blight risk-assessment, using the MARYBLYT system, showed that climatic conditions in the studied area were favourable to infections during the analyzed period (1997-2006). Molecular characterization of E. amylovora strains had revealed their homogeneity, suggesting that these fire blight episodes could have been caused by just one inoculum source, supporting the hypothesis that there was a unique introduction of E. amylovora in the studied area. Spatial spread of E. amylovora to trees was analyzed within six orchards, indicating an aggregated distribution model. This Spanish experience demonstrates the success of scientifically-based prevention methods that lead to the deployment of a fast and strict containment strategy, useful for other Mediterranean areas