Characterisation and comparison of microbial populations in swine faeces and manure storage pits by 16S rDNA gene sequence analyses

Odour emanating from anaerobic lagoons and swine production facilities has increased the tension among rural neighbors and among urban and rural resid ents. Storage of swine manure is associated with the production of a variet y of odorous compounds, including ammonia, organic acids and alcohols, and sulphides. Although the generation of these chemicals is the result of micr obiological activity little is known about the types of microorganisms resp onsible for their production. We have initiated an approach to determine an d compare the bacterial populations present in both pig faeces and manure s torage pits. Total DNA was isolated from both of these ecosystems. DNA sequ ence analyses of PCR amplified 16S rDNA genes derived from eubacterial sequ ences were carried out. Similarity analyses of the 16S sequences indicated the presence of primarily low G + C Gram-positive bacteria, such as Clostri dium sp., Streptococcus sp., and Lactobacillus sp. in both ecosystems. Many of the sequences were from unidentified microorganisms. These results indi cate that the primary eubacteria identified in swine faeces and manure pits are low G + C, Gram-positive bacteria. (C) 2001 Academic Press.