Search Results (83)

In recent years, the Green Deal has become a cornerstone of the European Union’s development strategy, aiming to establish a sustainable, innovative and environmentally friendly economy. One of its primary goals is to reduce the negative impact of intensive farming by promoting sustainable agricultural practices. These practices include replacing synthetic fertilizers with more natural alternatives and substituting chemical plant protection products with biological solutions. A noteworthy prospect in this context is the growing insect farming industry, which opens up new possibilities for the food industry via waste processing. In Lithuania, insect farming is also expanding rapidly, with companies producing several hundred tons of frass (insect excrement and residues from growing media) every year. As insect farming is projected to increase rapidly over the next decade, the amount of frass produced will also increase. Therefore, it is necessary to find sustainable ways to use this byproduct. Frass is emerging as an important area of research and practical innovation with great potential for fertilizer production. Initial studies show that frass can contain up to 6% nitrogen, 2% phosphorus and 3% potassium, making it a valuable alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The chitin content (nearly 14%) in frass not only improves the soil but also improves plant resistance to disease. In addition, its organic composition improves soil structure and microbiological activity, contributing in the long term to increasing soil fertility. This paper analyses different samples of frass, assesses their physical and chemical properties and discusses the possible applications of these products in the context of sustainable agriculture. The studies show that frass can be a valuable raw material for fertilizer production, potentially reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and contributing to the reduction in agricultural waste. By combining economic benefits with ecological sustainability, this research contributes to wider sustainable agricultural innovation. Full article

Silkworm excrement, a byproduct of the sericulture industry, is rich in organic compounds and presents a sustainable substrate for enzyme production. This study investigates the potential of silkworm excrement as a substrate for pectinase production using Aspergillus niger submerged fermentation. Single-factor experiments and a Box–Behnken Design (BBD) were employed to identify and optimize the key medium components and their interactions. Results indicated that the optimal concentrations for maximum pectinase activity were CaCl₂ at 0.437 g/L, orange peel powder at 4.223 g/L, (NH₄)₂SO₄ at 15.761 g/L, and bran at 33.590 g/L. The optimized conditions achieved a pectinase activity of 20.505 U/mL, validating the robustness of the RSM model. This approach not only maximizes enzyme activity but also presents a sustainable and cost-effective method for utilizing a byproduct in the sericulture industry, aligning with principles of circular economy and waste minimization. Full article

Dung beetles are important ecosystem engineers, as they utilize the excrement produced by animals. For nearly 60 years, several species of dung beetle have been introduced to Australia to help mitigate the problems caused by the accumulation of livestock dung. The twenty-three successfully established species directly contribute to reducing the environmental impacts from dung accumulation, providing improvements to soil health, pasture productivity and pest fly reduction. Despite this success, there are still geographical and seasonal gaps in dung beetle activity, causing dung to remain on the soil surface. The continued importation of new dung beetle species is warranted to fill these gaps. One of the significant remaining gaps is during spring in southern Australia. Four spring-active dung species from Morocco were selected for a new importation program (2018–2022): Euonthophagus crocatus, Onthophagus vacca, Onthophagus marginalis subsp. andalusicus and Gymnopleurus sturmi. These species were surveyed at four sites in Morocco on an altitudinal gradient to assess their seasonal activity. The four species were found at all sites during spring, but in varying abundances, with different species dominating different sites. This is most likely due to differences in local conditions such as soil type. Seasonal activity varied depending on elevation. Gymnopleurus sturmi was found to be active later in the season and should be considered as a summer species. The four species selected will be, if they establish, a useful addition to the already introduced and established dung beetle fauna in Australia. Full article

The projected growth of the global population to over 10 billion by 2080 necessitates groundbreaking sustainable agricultural solutions that enhance productivity while mitigating environmental impacts. Tenebrio molitor frass (TMF), derived from larval excrement and exuviae, has emerged as a promising organic fertilizer. Enriched with macro- and micronutrients, TMF enhances soil functions through microbial communities that promote nutrient cycling, decompose organic matter, and suppress soilborne pathogens. Additionally, functional compounds like chitin, cellulose, xylans, and lignin improve the soil structure, foster beneficial microbes, and activate natural plant defence responses. The synergy of microbial activity and bioactive compounds positions TMF as a valuable resource for enhancing plant growth and soil health. Its role as a nutrient source, biostimulant, and soil amendment aligns with circular economy principles by recycling agro-industrial by-products and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. TMF also contributes to sustainable agriculture by improving soil fertility, microbial biodiversity, and plant stress resilience, while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient runoff. Additionally, TMF-derived biochar offers the potential for environmental remediation as an effective adsorbent. Despite its advantages, TMF faces challenges in scalability, cost, and regulations, requiring advancements in processing, enrichment, and supportive policies to maximize its potential in sustainable farming. Full article

The widespread application of antibiotics in intensive livestock production is increasingly contributing to antibiotic contamination, and their potential ecological risk to environmental media by resourceful utilization of livestock manure as fertilizers in China has been recognized. This study conducted a comprehensive investigation on 79 large-scale livestock farms and collected 86 livestock excrements and 20 soil and 20 surface water samples distributed in Sichuan Basin, where no similar studies were carried out before. In total, four tetracyclines (TCs), eight sulfonamides (SAs), and eight fluoroquinolones (QNs) were monitored by liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The findings revealed that antibiotics occurrence varied remarkably in excrement (feces or manure) among different livestock farms and different livestock species, following the descending order as QNs > TCs > SAs of detection rates and as TCs > QNs > SAs of detected concentrations, respectively. By source apportionment, livestock manure was demonstrated as a possible source for TCs and QNs detected in soil, while the detection of antibiotics in surface water was probably related to other sources. The central, south, and southwest of Sichuan Basin displayed a higher contamination of antibiotics from livestock manure. The ecological risk of antibiotics was obtained from a medium to heavy level, particularly TCs from swine farms to green algae, water flea, and inflated duckweed in aquatic water and QNs from all livestock farms to sensitive organisms in soil. Overall, the prioritized resource utilization of livestock manure would probably increase the contamination level and ecological risk to environment; hence, rational and effective measurement was highly recommended for antibiotics prevention in some regions of Sichuan Basin. Full article

Horticulture is mainly based on transplanting seedlings produced by specialized nurseries. The recent European authorization of frass in organic farming presents new opportunities for the development of organic seedling production. Frass, a by-product of insect farming, offers innovative solutions for this sector. It mainly consists of insect excrement, exuviae, and uningested feed. Their fertilizing and biostimulating effects have been demonstrated in various pot and field crops experiments. However, the current knowledge regarding the application of frass in seedling production remains insufficient. This study aims to assess the optimal dose of mealworm frass in germination substrates for Allium cepa L., Beta vulgaris L., and Brassica rapa L. Germination and phytotoxicity tests were carried out, with seedlings evaluated one month after sowing in substrates containing frass at concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% of frass. The germination test revealed that the dilution of the frass at 1:100 produced a phytostimulant effect on A. cepa and a moderate phytotoxic effect on B. vulgaris and B. rapa. The application of mealworm frass at a concentration of 0.5–1% was generally the most effective dose, although all doses of frass in the substrate resulted in seedlings whose root length, leaf length, number of leaves, and biomass were significantly higher than the control. In conclusion, the application of low doses of mealworm frass in organic seedling production is promising and allows the management of potential phytotoxicity. Full article

This study presents an algorithm for shrimp counting using a small-scale labeling model. The aim is to enhance shrimp farming efficiency, reduce biosecurity risks, and minimize manual counting errors. Experimental evaluations were conducted using Litopenaeus vannamei samples divided into four growth stages. A comparison was made between the classical threshold segmentation method, small-scale labeling density estimation based on FamNet, and our proposed small-scale labeling density estimation based on FamNet-S models. The results showed that the proposed FamNet-S-based small-scale labeling density estimation method achieved a better level of accuracy than the classical FamNet model across different growth stages. In the first stage, it reduced the mean absolute error (MAE) by 8.7% and the mean squared error (MSE) by 9.6%. In the fourth stage, MAE and MSE further decreased by 18.9% and 21.6%, respectively. The research findings demonstrate that the small-scale labeling density estimation approach based on FamNet-S exhibits robust adaptability and accuracy across diverse growth stages, rendering it suitable for scenarios with limited annotated samples. It effectively tackles challenges associated with shrimp overlap and occlusion while mitigating interference from feed and excrement, thus enhancing the precision and efficiency of shrimp counting. This algorithm for small-scale labeling density estimation significantly reduces annotation workloads while facilitating rapid deployment, making it an ideal solution for counting and marking in practical aquaculture environments. The study provides a high-precision yet efficient methodology for shrimp counting and marking tasks, thus reducing labor intensity while improving farming management accuracy, thereby supporting intelligent control in shrimp farming. Full article

This review examines Ghana’s progress in sanitation. These efforts include the containment, transport, treatment, and disposal or reuse of human waste. This research specifically examined the current sanitation processes and programming efforts within Ghana, West Africa. Some reports indicate that Ghana is the second dirtiest country in Africa and the seventh dirtiest country in the world. A review of the current water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) options within the country indicates that significant efforts need to be undertaken. There are multiple toilet options and current practices within the country for the disposal of excrement. Unfortunately, the municipal sewer systems and wastewater treatment facilities within the country are either broken down or severely inadequate compared to their surrounding population. Current WASH programming, extension efforts, and key factors affecting the uptake of sanitation investment are reviewed. The price point where consumers would utilize sanitation products and services was analyzed, as well as the cost-to-benefit ratio of specific technologies for community members. This review demonstrated that initiatives should be undertaken to provide more sanitation professionals, renovate and expand urban municipal sewerage systems, and provide basic access to rural community areas. It was recommended that future programming, extension, and policy efforts be intentional and include relevant stakeholders and community members to provide a greater opportunity for establishing successful and substantial efforts. Full article

Stool is a mixture of excrement, microbiota, enzymes, undigested material, and small molecules. Fecal metabolomics has gained interest recently, owing to advances in metabolomics and growing research into both the host’s physiology and the gut microbiome. One challenge with fecal metabolomics is preserving the sample integrity from collection until analysis, as the microbiota and enzymes continue to alter the metabolome following defecation. Currently, flash-freezing or lyophilization are utilized to minimize post-collection metabolome changes; however, this requires complex equipment and immediate processing, precluding the possibility for at-home sampling. Commercial devices containing stabilizing solvents have been developed to facilitate at-home collection, ambient transport, and sample storage. Here, we explore the efficacy of a commercially available stool collection device with a stabilization reagent tailored to fecal metabolomics. Stool samples from six donors were either processed shortly post-collection or stored at room temperature for seven days in the tube, with and without the stabilization reagent. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS)-based untargeted metabolomics was utilized for analyzing extracted metabolites. Chemometric analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the device. We found that the device with the stabilization reagent minimized changes in the metabolite profile relative to unstabilized stool left at room temperature for one week. Full article

Chlamydiosis, caused by Chlamydia psittaci is a bacterial infection found in at least 465 species of birds worldwide. It is highly contagious among birds and can spread to humans. In birds, the disease can manifest itself in acute, subacute, and chronic forms with signs including anorexia, diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss, or, occasionally, mucopurulent or serous oculonasal discharge. This article describes an outbreak of chlamydiosis that occurred in a commercial psittacine breeding aviary in 2021 in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. In total, 16 juvenile blue-fronted parrots, more than 60 blue-fronted parrot chicks, and 2 adult macaws died during the outbreak. In all cases, clinical signs were weight loss, diarrhea, yellowish green excrement, and respiratory distress. The necropsy of four juvenile blue-fronted parrots, two blue-fronted parrot chicks, and two adult macaws revealed cachexia, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, splenic petechial hemorrhages, ascites, pulmonary edema, and hydropericardium. Histologically, multifocal lymphoplasmacytic and heterophilic airsaculitis, multifocal lymphoplasmacytic and necrotizing hepatitis with intracytoplasmic elementary bodies, multifocal necro-heterophilic hepatitis, multifocal lymphoplasmacytic nephritis, and diffuse heterophilic pneumonia were found. A presumptive diagnosis was established based on gross and microscopic lesions, and it was confirmed using immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reactions. The sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the ompA gene revealed genotype A and B of Chlamydia psittaci. Full article

Hermetia illucens has received a lot of attention as its larval stage can grow on organic substrates, even those that are decomposing. Black soldier fly breeding provides a variety of valuable products, including frass, a mixture of larval excrements, larval exuviae, and leftover feedstock, that can be used as a fertilizer in agriculture. Organic fertilizers, such as frass, bringing beneficial bacteria and organic materials into the soil, improves its health and fertility. This comprehensive review delves into a comparative analysis of frass derived from larvae fed on different substrates. The composition of micro- and macro-nutrients, pH levels, organic matter content, electrical conductivity, moisture levels, and the proportion of dry matter are under consideration. The effect of different feeding substrates on the presence of potentially beneficial bacteria for plant growth within the frass is also reported. A critical feature examined in this review is the post-application beneficial impacts of frass on crops, highlighting the agricultural benefits and drawbacks of introducing Hermetia illucens frass into cultivation operations. One notable feature of this review is the categorization of the crops studied into distinct groups, which is useful to simplify comparisons in future research. Full article

Antibiotics in animal production are widely used around the world for therapeutic and preventive purposes, and in some countries, they still serve as antibiotic growth stimulants. Regardless of the purpose of using antibiotics in livestock, they may be present in animal tissues and organs as well as in body fluids and excretions (feces and urine). Farm animal excrement in unprocessed form (natural fertilizers) or processed form (organic fertilizers) is applied to agricultural fields because it improves soil fertility. Antibiotics present in fertilizers may therefore contaminate the soil, surface, groundwater, and plants, which may pose a threat to the environment, animals, and humans. Therefore, it is important to develop analytical methods that will allow for the control of the presence of antibacterial substances in natural and organic fertilizers. Therefore, in this study, an LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of 21 antibacterial substances in natural and organic liquid fertilizers. The developed method was used to analyze 62 samples of natural and organic liquid fertilizers, showing that over 24% of the tested samples were contaminated with antibiotics, mainly from the group of tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones. Studies of post-fermentation sludge from biogas plants have shown that the processes of anaerobic methane fermentation, pH, and temperature changes taking place in bioreactors do not lead to the complete degradation of antibiotics present in the material used for biogas production. For this reason, monitoring studies of natural and organic fertilizers should be undertaken to limit the introduction of antibiotics into the natural environment. Full article

Odontogenic bone tumor (OT) is a rare pathology in the world, but it is very common in developing countries; its etiology is still unknown, and it causes serious deformities of the mandible and maxilla if it is not operated upon soon. Lassa virus (LASV) belongs to the Arenaviridae family, and its reservoir is a rodent of the genus Mastomys. The transmission of the LASV to humans can occur through ingestion or inhalation by contact with dirty objects, the consumption of contaminated food, or exposure to wounds, as rodents shed the virus in their urine and excrement. In this observational study, we aim to evaluate the presence of LASV in OT patient tissues collected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For this purpose, a group of nine patients affected by OT were enrolled, and the tissues derived from the surgery were collected. In total, 81.5% of the tissues were positive for LASV presence. Interestingly, we found that not only was the tumor LASV-positive, but in some cases, the bone was close to the tumor and the oral mucosa lining. These preliminary data could suggest the hypothesis that LASV may be involved with the onset of OT. Full article

In areas where livestock are bred, there is a demand for accurate, real-time, and stable monitoring of ammonia concentration in the breeding environment. However, existing electronic nose systems have slow response times and limited detection accuracy. In this study, we introduce a novel solution: the bionic chamber construction of the electronic nose is optimized, and the sensor response data in the chamber are analyzed using an intelligent algorithm. We analyze the structure of the biomimetic chamber and the surface airflow of the sensor array to determine the sensing units of the system. The system employs an electronic nose to detect ammonia and ethanol gases in a circulating airflow within a closed box. The captured signals are processed, followed by the application of classification and regression models for data prediction. Our results suggest that the system, leveraging the biomimetic chamber, offers rapid gas detection response times. A high classification prediction accuracy, with a determination coefficient R² value of 0.99 for single-output regression and over 0.98 for multi-output regression predictions, is achieved by incorporating a backpropagation (BP) neural network algorithm. These outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of the electronic nose, based on an optimized bionic chamber combined with a BP neural network algorithm, in accurately detecting ammonia emitted during livestock excreta fermentation, satisfying the ammonia detection requirements of breeding farms. Full article

Freshwater ecosystems play a key role in global diversity and are subject to a series of anthropic impacts, often leading to biodiversity loss. The organisms inhabiting these sites continuously release DNA into the environment through cells, excrement, gametes and/or decomposing matter; thus, evaluation of this eDNA could revolutionize the monitoring of biodiversity. In this study, environmental DNA metabarcoding was used for the first time in three Sicilian lakes: Lake Poma, Piana degli Albanesi Lake and Lake Scanzano. Results obtained provide the first snapshot of vertebrate biodiversity in these three lakes, where little is known, to provide valuable information useful for creating a baseline of knowledge regarding the biodiversity in these three lakes. Another important result was the detection of marine species, most likely due to some kind of anthropogenic contamination. Environmental DNA is a useful tool to evaluate both biodiversity and the ecological status of the environment; it has the potential to complement traditional methods, and the use of both approaches may offer a more comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem. Full article