Marcelo Henrique Otenio

Prevalence and persistence of potentially pathogenic and antibiotic resistant bacteria during anaerobic digestion treatment of cattle manure.

Anaerobic digestion figures as a sustainable alternative to avoid discharge of cattle manure in the environment, which results in biogas and biofertilizer. Persistence of potentially pathogenic and drug-resistant bacteria during anaerobic digestion of cattle manure was evaluated. Selective cultures were performed for enterobacteria (ENT), non-fermenting Gram-negative rods (NFR) and Gram-positive cocci (GPC). Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were determined and a decay of all bacterial groups was observed after 60days. Multidrug-resistant bacteria were detected both the influent and effluent. GPC, the most prevalent group was highly resistant against penicillin and levofloxacin, whereas resistance to ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam and chloramphenicol was frequently observed in the ENT and NFR groups. The data point out the need of discussions to better address management of biodigesters and the implementation of sanitary and microbiological safe treatments of animal manures to avoid consequences to human, animal and environmental health.

Intensidade de ruído em hospital de 222 leitos na 18ª Regional de Saúde - PR

Environment noise pollution is common place today, at intolerable levels. In hospitals, technological developments have, as a consequence, potentially harmful noise levels. Much of the hospital noise comes from inside, rather than outside, and the major source of such noise is the Intensive Care Unit, for example equipment and hospital staff talk. Our goal with the present study was to investigate the noise level present in the different hospital environments, within a 222 bed hospital located at the 18th health zone, PR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out in March, 2005, during a period of 24 hours, in tem different sectors. CASE STUDY: We checked environmental sound level by means of a model 1350 decibel meter. RESULTS: The sound level found in our study was of 63.7 dB(A) in average, which exceeds the 45 dB recommended by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (1987). CONCLUSION: In the analyzed sectors, the sound level was considerably above the recommended maximum. The hospital staff should be aware of this noise level and its effects, so that they may act in a more efficient way in order to reduce this noise pollution; thus benefiting the professionals and patient recovery.

Dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes and presence of putative pathogens during ambient temperature anaerobic digestion

This study was focused on evaluating the persistency of antimicrobial resistance (AR) genes and putative pathogenic bacteria in an anaerobic digesters operating at mesophilic ambient temperature, in two different year seasons: summer and winter.

Noise level in a 222 bed hospital in the 18th health region - PR

UNLABELLED Environment noise pollution is common place today, at intolerable levels. In hospitals, technological developments have, as a consequence, potentially harmful noise levels. Much of the hospital noise comes from inside, rather than outside, and the major source of such noise is the Intensive Care Unit, for example equipment and hospital staff talk. Our goal with the present study was to investigate the noise level present in the different hospital environments, within a 222 bed hospital located at the 18th health zone, PR. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out in March, 2005, during a period of 24 hours, in tem different sectors. CASE STUDY We checked environmental sound level by means of a model 1350 decibel meter. RESULTS The sound level found in our study was of 63.7 dB(A) in average, which exceeds the 45 dB recommended by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (1987). CONCLUSION In the analyzed sectors, the sound level was considerably above the recommended maximum. The hospital staff should be aware of this noise level and its effects, so that they may act in a more efficient way in order to reduce this noise pollution; thus benefiting the professionals and patient recovery.

Bioenergy recovery from cattle wastewater in an UASB-AF hybrid reactor

New data on biogas production and treatment of cattle wastewater were registered using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket-anaerobic filter (UASB-AF) hybrid reactor under mesophilic temperature conditions (37 °C). The reactor was operated in semi-continuous mode with hydraulic retention times of 6, 5, 3 and 2 days and organic loading rates of 3.8, 4.6, 7.0 and 10.8 kg CODt m-3 d-1. Biogas volumes of 0.6-0.8 m3 m-3 d-1 (3.8-4.6 kg CODt m-3 d-1) and 1.2-1.4 m3 m-3 d-1 (7.0-10.8 kg CODt m-3 d-1), with methane concentrations between 69 and 75%, were attained. The removal of organic matter with values of 60-81% (CODt) and 51-75% (CODs) allowed methane yields of 0.155-0.183 m3 CH4 kg-1 CODt and 0.401-0.513 m3 CH4 kg-1 CODs to be obtained. Volatile solids were removed in 34 to 69%, with corresponding methane yields of 0.27 to 0.42 m3 CH4 kg-1 VSremoved. The good performance of the novel hybrid reactor was demonstrated by biogas outputs higher than reported previously in the literature, along with the quality of the gas obtained in the various experimental phases. The hybrid reactor investigated in this study presents comparative advantages, particularly in relation to conventional complete mixture units, considering economic factors such as energy consumption, reactor volume and installation area.

AVALIAÇÃO EM ESCALA LABORATORIAL DA UTILIZAÇÃO DO PROCESSO ELETROLÍTICO NO TRATAMENTO DE ÁGUAS

Water treatment uses chlorine for disinfection causing formation of trihalomethanes. In this work, an electrolytic water pre-treatment was studied and applied to the water from a fountainhead. The action against microorganisms was evaluated using cast-iron and aluminum electrodes. Assays were made in laboratory using the electrolytic treatment. After 5 min of electrolysis the heterotrophic bacteria count was below 500 cfu/mL and complete elimination of total and fecal coliforms was observed. Using electrolytic treatment as a pretreatment of conventional tap water treatment is proposed.

Microalgae-mediated bioremediation and valorization of cattle wastewater previously digested in a hybrid anaerobic reactor using a photobioreactor: Comparison between batch and continuous operation

Scenedesmus obliquus (ACOI 204/07) microalgae were cultivated in cattle wastewater in vertical alveolar flat panel photobioreactors, operated in batch and continuous mode, after previous digestion in a hybrid anaerobic reactor. In batch operation, removal efficiencies ranges of 65 to 70% of COD, 98 to 99% of NH4+ and 69 to 77.5% of PO4-3 after 12days were recorded. The corresponding figures for continuous flow were from 57 to 61% of COD, 94 to 96% of NH4+ and 65 to 70% of PO4-3 with mean hidraulic retention time of 12days. Higher rates of CO2 fixation (327-547mgL-1d-1) and higher biomass volumetric productivity (213-358mgL-1d-1) were obtained in batch mode. This microalgae-mediated process can be considered promising for bioremediation and valorization of effluents produced by cattle breeding yielding a protein-rich microalgal biomass that could be eventually used as cattle feed.

Optimization of the skimmed-milk flocculation method for recovery of adenovirus from sludge

Return of treated sludge to the environment poses concerns and has stimulated the development of studies on viral monitoring in this matrix, in order to assess its potential risks for public health. Human adenovirus (HAdV) has been identified as a putative viral marker of faecal contamination due to its stability and resistance to the sewage treatment process. The aim of this study was to optimize the organic flocculation procedure in order to establish an appropriate methodology for HAdV recovery from sewage sludge samples. Four protocols (A-D) have been proposed, with changes in the initial sample dilution, in the stirring time and in the final concentration of skimmed-milk. A single sludge sample was obtained in Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and divided into aliquots. In each protocol, three aliquots were inoculated with HAdV and bacteriophage PP7 and a non-inoculated one was used as negative control. Viral load and recovery rate were determined by quantitative PCR. HAdV recovery rate varied between the protocols tested (p=0.016) and the best result was obtained through the protocol C. In order to confirm this result a field study with activated, thickened and digested sludge samples was carried out. Different types of sludge were obtained in two WWTPs and processed using protocol C. HAdV was detected in all samples, with a similar or higher viral load than those obtained with other concentration techniques already applied to sludge. Protocol C proved to be really efficient, with the advantage of showing low cost and practicability in routine laboratories.

Sensory perception of the fermented goat milk: potential application of the DSC method

Goat milk and its derivatives present proven beneficial health properties; however, some sensory aspects associated to consumers’ expectations restrict the consumption growth for these products. In this work, fermented caprine milk formulations have been evaluated utilizing the methodology of Discourse of the Collective Subject (Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo – DSC) associated to sensory analysis, in order to evaluate the perception of fermented caprine milk by consumers. The physicochemical and microbiological requisites of the fermented milk formulations evaluated during the storage, were according to current legislation. The probiotic characteristics of evaluated formulations were preserved, presenting viable cells counts for Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5, Bifidobacterium BB-12, and Streptococcus thermophilus higher than 1x106 CFU/mL, along 28 days of storage. The Discourse of the Collective Subject results have shown that the typical taste and flavor, present in products derived from caprine milk, did not influence the purchase intention, which was expressive for all fermented milks. The Discourse of the Collective Subject has elucidated the consumers’ perspective, determining then both, the consumers’ profile and the factors interfering on the acquisition of fermented caprine milk.