Interntionl Journl of Poultry Science 6 (6): 440-444, 007 ISSN 168-8356 Asin Network for Scientific Informtion, 007 Prevlence of Drkling Beetles (Alphitoius diperinus) nd Bcteril Lod in Broiler Litters 1 E.K. Asniyn, E.A.O. Lseinde nd J.O. Agede 1 Deprtment of Animl Science nd Production, Joseph Ayo Blol University, Ikeji, Nigeri Deprtment of Animl Production nd Helth, Federl University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeri Astrct: The differently replced litters (snd nd wood shvings) on which roilers were rised for eight weeks were exmined for cteril lods nd drkling eetle (Alphitoius diperinus) popultion. The initil investigtion into the litters reveled wood shvings to hve higher cteril lod compred to snd. Litter replcement frequencies nd litter type significntly ffected (p<0.05) litter cteril lod, with wood shvings without replcement hving the highest lod (3.09 10 ±0.07 mlg ) nd snd litters replced seven times t weekly intervls nd once t four-weekly intervls hd the lest lods of 1.3 10 ±0.05 mlg nd 1.3 10 ±0.13 mlg respectively. The popultion of drkling eetle per m were significntly ffected (p<0.05) y the litter types, litter replcement frequencies. This showed tht popultion of drkling eetle on wood shvings replced seven times ws significntly higher (p<0.05) thn other replcement group while the rest were not significntly different from ech other. In ddition some pthogenic cteri were identified mong the orgnisms isolted in the used litters. Bsed on the litter type, wood shvings litter hd significntly - higher popultion of drkling eetle (1018.00±90.00 m ) nd cteri lod (.8 10 ±0.11 mlg ). Hence snd is etter thn wood shvings s roiler litter. Key words: Broiler litters, cteri nd drkling eetle Introduction The mjor mngement chnges tht revolutionized poultry production ws the use of intensive housing (Smith, 001). This is the trnsformtion from the primitive free rnge system of poultry rering to intensive rering. This development prevented poultry sed pollution nd dnger of disese outrek, since irds movement re restricted to prticulr confinement. Under this intensive housing, the deep litter system ws trditionlly found suitle for roiler production (Oluyemi nd Roerts, 1988). Hence, hndling their ccumulted wstes (dropping or feces) with high moisture content ecme gret concern to poultry mngement experts. The moisture content of the dropping supports degrdtive ction of cteri, which releses pungent smell of mmoni nd other suffocting gses into the environment (Ritz et l., 005). These gses re oth hzrdous to the irds nd humn helth. Therefore, strtegy to reduce the moisture level of the poultry droppings ecme n issue under intensive (deep litter system) mngement of roilers. This led to the discovery of mny poultry dropping sorents to enhnce disposl with miniml impct on the environment. The sorents or edding mterils re generlly referred to s litter. Litter mterils currently used include penut hulls, swdust, strw, corncos, chopped newspper, wood shvings ut snd is currently under investigtion. Trils with these mterils hve not show superiority over wood shvings. Wood shvings nd other wood y-products hve een used s litter mterils of choice especilly for roiler producers nerly s long s the commercil roiler industry hs existed. The qulities of chrcteristics tht must e possessed y ny mteril for suitility of litter mteril include vilility, inexpensiveness, free of deleterious compounds nd hve physicl properties tht do not compromise irds helth. Mny fctors ffect litter moisture, for instnce, if new litter is not stored properly nd ecomes dmp efore it is spred in the roiler house, wet litter prolems would likely e unvoidle. Nutrition lso influence litter qulity. Certin dietry ingredients (especilly slt), when fed in excess, cuse roilers to consume nd excrete lrge mounts of wter nd result in wet litter conditions. Environmentl conditions such s wet nd humid wether condition or very cold tempertures cn cuse wet litter, if the roiler house ventiltion system is not dequte for effective moisture content mngement. Drinker lines nd evportive cooling pds, if not mnged nd mintined crefully cn contriute gretly to wet litter prolems. Livestock welfre nd performnce necessitte serch for knowledge on the composition of the cteri microflor present in roiler litter. Mrtin nd McCnn (1998) performed survey of pthogenic Corresponding uthor: E.K. Asniyn, Deprtment of Animl Science nd Production, Joseph Ayo Blol University, Ikeji-Arkeji, P.M.B.5006, Iles, Nigeri 440
Asniyn et l.: Beetles nd Bcteri in Broiler Litters Tle 1: Totl cteri counts of snd nd wood shvings Smples Bcteri Lod Snd 6 1 6.0 10 mlg Wood Shvings 1.46 10 mlg Tle : Chrcteristics of isoltes from Snd Isoltes --------------------------------------------------- Chrcteristics 1 3 4 5 Grm s stining - + + - + Shpe of cells R S S R R Motility + - - + + Ctlse + + + + + Oxidse + - - - - Spores - - - - + Indole - - - + - Cogulse - - + - - Sugr fermenttion Glucose A A A AG A Fructose + A + AG AG Glctose - A AG AG AG Mnitol + A A AG - Lctose + A A AG - Sucrose + A + - A Oxidtion Fermenttion O/- OF -/F OF OF Key: R = Rod, S = Sphere, + = Positive, - = Negtive; F = Fermenttion, O = Oxidtion, A = Acid, G = Gs, AG = Acid nd Gs. Prole orgnisms: 1 = Pseudomons eruginos; 4 = Aerocter erogenes, = Micrococcus luteus, 5 = Bcillus cereus*, 3 = Stphylococcus ureus*, *Pthogenic Tle 3: Chrcteristics of isoltes from wood shvings Isoltes --------------------------------------------------- Chrcteristics 1 3 4 5 Grm s stining + - - - + Shpe of cells S R R R S Motility - + + + - Ctlse + + + + + Oxidse - + - - - Spores - - - - - Indole - - - + - Cogulse + - - - - Sugr fermenttion Glucose A A A AG A Fructose + + AG AG + Glctose AG - A AG AG Mnitol A + A AG A Lctose A + - AG A Sucrose + + A - + Oxidtion Fermenttion -/F O/- -/F OF -/F Key: R = Rod, S = Sphere, + = Positive, - = Negtive; F = Fermenttion, O = Oxidtion, A = Acid, G = Gs, AG = Acid nd Gs; Prole orgnisms: 1 = Stphylococcus Aureus*, = Pseudomons eruginos; 3 = Serrti mrcescens; 4 = Aerocter erogenes, 5 = Stphylococcus epidermides, *Pthogenic microorgnisms in poultry litter with selective medium nd found Stphylococcus xylosus to e predominnt species. Entomologicl study of the poultry litter y Cmpell (1996) reported the presence of drkling eetles in poultry litter. Drkling eetles re migrtory nocturnl insects tht feed on poultry crcsses nd lso poultry my feed on them, hence regrded s mechnicl vectors of severl diseses, such s Mrek s disese, vin influenz, Slmonell, fowl pox, Coccidiosis, otulism nd Newcstle disese (Cmpell, 1996). In similr study conducted y Wtson (004), drkling eetle (Alphitoius diperinus) nd housefly (Musc domesticl) were implicted in the trnsmission of Turkey Coron Viruses (TCV) in ddition to other severl poultry diseses. This study ws undertken to determine nd compre the reltive drkling eetle popultion nd cteri lod of wood shvings nd snd litters. Mterils nd Methods Pre-study ctivity nd experimentl design: The different litters used for the study were snds of the sndy lom texturl clss nd wood shvings. The snd ws ir-dried y spreding it in n open nd well ventilted room. 500 Ank roilers were rised on the litters for eight weeks t five different litter replcement frequencies (7, 3,, 1 nd 0 time within the eight week rering period). Thus the litters were chnged or replced weekly, two weekly, three weekly nd four weekly while zero weekly replcement serves s the control tretment. 5 fctoril experiment in Completely Rndomized Design (CRD) with five replictions ws used for ssigning the chicks on the litter tretments. Litter smpling: Smples of the litter mteril nd spent litters were for cteri counting nd chrcteriztion. The spent litter smples were collected from the four corners nd centre position of ech pen nd thoroughly mixed. The smples were collected efore ech replcement of litters. Drkling eetle counts: The eetles were erlier oserved to e ggregted under the woody se crrying the plstic drinkers. The numer of eetles (Alphitoius diperinus) ws counted out from the pens (1 m ) within the litter y direct numericl counting t the time of litter replcement. The totl numer of eetles counted ws sed on 1 m re of litter cover. Isoltion nd counting of cteri: One grm of ech litter smple collect t different replcements ws put into McCrtney ottle contining 5 ml of sterile sline solution (85%) nd mixed properly. Seril dilutions up to -5 10 were mde. 0.1 ml of ech mixture ws trnsferred into molten nutrient gr pltes nd incuted t 37 C for 4 hours. Individul colonies from ech plte were su-cultured until pure cultures were otined, fter which the resultnt colonies were counted using Gllen kmp colony counter (Olutiol et l., 1991). 441
Asniyn et l.: Beetles nd Bcteri in Broiler Litters Tle 4: Chrcteristics of isoltes from snd litter Isoltes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chrcteristics 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Grm s stining - - + - - + + - + + Shpe of cells R R S R R S S R R S Motility + + - + + - - + + - Ctlse + + + - + + - + + + Oxidse - + - - - - - - - - Spores - - - - - - - - + - Indole + - - - + - - + - - Cogulse - - - - - + - - - - Sugr fermenttion Glucose AG A A AG AG A A AG A A Fructose - + - - - + - AG AG + Glctose - A - - AG A AG AG AG Mnitol A + A A - A + AG - A Lctose + + A - - A + AG - A Sucrose + + A - A + + - A + Oxidtion -/F O/- OF -/F -/F -/F -/F OF OF -/F fermenttion, Key: R = Rod, S = Sphere, + = Positive, - = Negtive; F = Fermenttion, O = Oxidtion, A = Acid, G = Gs, AG = Acid nd Gs, Prole orgnisms: 1 = Escherichi coli, = Pseudomons eruginos, 3 = Micrococcus leteus, 4 = Slmonell sp.*, 5 = Proteus vulgris*, 6 = Stphylococcus ureus*, 7 = Streptococcus feclis*, 8 = Aerocter erogenes, 9 = Bcillus cereus*, 10 = Stphylococcus epidermidis, *Pthogenic Tle 5: Chrcteristics of isoltes from wood shving litter Isoltes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chrcteristics 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 Grm s stining - - - + + - + - Shpe of cells R R R S S R S R Motility + + + - - + - + Ctlse + + + - + + + - Oxidse - - - - - + - - Spores - - - - - - - - Indole - + + - - - - - Cogulse - - - - - - + - Sugr fermenttion Glucos A AG AG A A A A AG Fructose AG - AG - + + + - Glctose A AG A AG - AG - Mnitol A A AG + A + A A Lctose - + AG + A + A - Sucrose A + - + + + + - Oxidtion -/F -/F OF -/F -/F O/- -/F -/F fermenttion, Key: R = Rod, S = Sphere, + = Positive, - = Negtive; F = Fermenttion, O = Oxidtion, A = Acid, G = Gs, AG = Acid nd Gs; Prole orgnisms: 1 = Serrti mrcescens; 5 = Stphylococcus epidermides; = Escherichi coli; 6 = Pseudomons eruginos; 3 = Aerocter erogenes; 7 = Stphylococcus ureus*, 4 = Strptococcus feclis*; 8 = Slmonell spp.*, *Pthogenic Chrcteriztion of isolted cteri: For chrcteriztion of cteril isoltes, the following iochemicl tests were crried out; Ctlse, motility, indole, oxidse, oxidtive/fermenttion, utiliztion of sugrs nd crohydrtes s descried y Burchnn nd Giins (1974). Sttisticl nlysis: Dt on drkling eetles popultion nd cteril lod were sujected to nlysis of vrince (ANOVA) nd tretment mens seprted y Duncn s multiple rnge test ccording to Steel nd Torrie (1980) using Minit sttisticl pckge (v10. minit Inc. USA). Results Tle 1 presents the totl cteril counts of snd nd wood shvings. The wood shvings hd higher cteril lod thn snd. The chrcteristics of vrious cteri isoltes from snd nd wood shvings were s shown in Tle nd 3 respectively. Pseudomons eruginos, Stphylococcus ureus nd Aerocter erogenes cteri were found to e common in oth the snd nd wood shvings. It ws however oserved tht Micrococcus luteus, Bcillus cereus, Serrti mrcescens nd Stphylococcus epidermidis were seprtely found in them. Stphylococcus ureus nd Bcillus cereus were 44
Asniyn et l.: Beetles nd Bcteri in Broiler Litters Tle 6: Drkling eetles popultion nd cteri lod in differently replced wood shvings nd snd litters Litter type Litter Replcement Frequency - Drkling eetles (No. m ) Bcteril lod (x10 mlg ) Wood shving 0 46.00±36.00 3.09±0.07 1 94.00±04.00 1.88±0.05 886.60±193.60.0±0.07 3 840.00±94.00.11±0.07 7 646.00±936.00.13±0.05 Snd 0 160.00±30.60.07±0.04 1 0.00±0.00 1.3±0.13 60.00±3.00 1.49±0.1 3 40.00±30.60 1.45±0.0 7 80.00±0.00 1.3±0.05 Sttisticl significnce Litter type * * Litter replcement freq. * * Litter type frequency * NS Men seprtion Litter type effect Wood shving 1018.00±90.00.8±0.11 Snd 7.10±16.00 1.53±0.08 Litter replcement freq. effect 0 93.40±158.40.58±0.3 1 156.60±110.00 1.60±0.14 414.00±04.00 1.85±0.17 3 440.00±.00 1.78±0.15 7 1360.00±710.00 1.7±0.18 Men+SEM; NS = Not significnt (p>0.05), * = Significnt (p<0.05); Mens with different. Superscripts within the sme column nd for the sme prmeters re significntly different (p<0.05) identified to e pthogenic. Such nture mkes wood shvings to e potentilly The chrcteristics of cteri isoltes from snd nd degrdle nd hence promotes cteril growth. Also, wood shvings litters re presented in Tle 4 nd 5 isoltion of vrious species of cteri in snd nd respectively. Pseudomons eruginos, Streptococcus wood shvings ws n indiction tht they were not feclis, Aerocter erogenes, Bcillus cereus, nturlly sterile. The pthogenic cteri found in them Stphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichi coli nd showed tht oth hd the potentil to contin injurious Slmonell species were the common cteri isolted orgnisms. These oservtions tend to show tht snd from oth litters. Serrti mrcescens, Micrococcus nd wood shvings contin cteri t their nturl luteus, Proteus vulgris nd Stphylococcus ureus stte. were seprtely isolted from wood shvings nd snd On the wood shvings nd snd litters differently litters. Aprt from the fct tht more pthogenic cteri replced for roilers, drkling eetle (Alphitoius were identified in snd litter, the sme litter ws found to diperinus) ws found to e of significntly (p<0.05) contin higher numer of cteri species. On the wood higher in wood shvings thn in snd due to litter types shvings nd snd litters presented in Tle 6, drkling nd litter replcement frequency. This ws in conformity eetles (Alphitoius diperinus) popultion is with the report of Bilgili et l. (000) tht houses significntly influenced (p<0.05) y litter type nd litter equipped with snd s litter hd lower drkling eetle replcement frequency. Wood shvings litter hd levels, less cking nd more eneficil tempertures. significntly (p<0.05) higher popultion of drkling The wood shvings litter replced seven times hd the - eetles (1018±90.00 m ) sed on litter types while highest drkling eetle popultion. The presence or seven times litter replcement hd the highest higher popultion of drkling eetle (Alphitoius popultion (1360±710.00 - m ) sed on litter diperinus) in wood shvings litter tends to show tht replcement frequency. looser litter promotes the survivl of drkling eetles, Also, litter type nd litter replcement frequency which ws n greement with the findings of Townsend significntly (p<0.05) ffected cteril lod. Bsed litter (1998), tht drkling eetles congregte where there is type, wood shvings litter hd significntly (p<0.05) dequte moisture or the litter is looser nd deeper. higher cteril lod (.8 10 ±0.11 mlg ) thn snd The cteril lod of the litters presented wood shvings litter while zero replcement of litter hd the highest litter to e of higher cteril lod thn snd, with the cteril lod (.58 10 ±0.3mLG ) sed on litter wood shvings without replcement s the highest in replcement frequency. cteril lod. This tends to show tht even though oth litters could e used continuously without replcement, snd litter seems to e sfer cteriologiclly. This Discussion The higher cteril lod of wood shvings cn e ttriuted to its orgnic nture tht is mjorly cellulose. 443 grees with the report of Bilgili et l. (000), tht moisture nd mmoni levels were similr in pine
Asniyn et l.: Beetles nd Bcteri in Broiler Litters shvings nd snd, with significntly lower numers of cteri in the snd. Also corroorting Mcklin et l. (005), snd litter hd lower cteril counts, wter ctivity nd moisture level compred with pine shvings. Hence, cteriologiclly, snd cn e vile litter lterntive to wood shvings in Northern Nigeri where wood shvings is not redily ville. Wood shvings litter tend to contin higher lod of cteri ut with reltively limited species compred to snd litter. This implies tht wood shvings could promote etter development nd multipliction of limited species of cteri thn snd. Some cteri isoltes from oth litters re pthogenic ut irds did not show symptoms of disese. This could e due to the sence of predisposing fctors nd possile lower cteril lod elow pthogenic threshold (Awoniyi et l., 1995). However, the non-pthogenicity of the few isolted pthogenic cteri in oth litters further support their reltive sfety to roilers welfre. Snd is very hevy nd this could e disdvntgeous, ut there is need for these positive qulities to e hrnessed. Hence there is need for further reserch to find out rte t which snd nd wood shvings could e comined s litters to enjoy oth the qulities of snd nd wood shvings. References Awoniyi, T.A.M., M.G. Fkolde, F.C. Adetuyi nd J.O. Agede, 1995. Chrcteriztion of cteril florl in iodeteriortion of roiler chicken diets with mnure lrve inclusion. Proceedings of UNESCO-MAB Regionl Trining Workshop, Akure, Nigeri, pp: 3-6. Bilgili, S., J. Hess, J. Blke nd M. Eckmn, 000. Turning trsh into tresure: snd s edding mteril for rering roilers. Highlights of Agriculturl Reserch, vol. 4, No 1 Auurn University, Auurn, Al. Buchnn, R.E. nd N.E. Giins, 1974. Bergey s Mnul of Determintive Bcteriology, 8th Edn. Willims nd Wilkins, Bltimore, pp: 168. Cmpell, J.B., 1996. A guide for mnging poultry insects. Ne Guide Pulished y coopertive Extension, Institute of Agriculture nd Nturl Resources, University of Nersk-Lincoln. Coopertive Extension Service/ The University of Georgi College of Agriculturl nd Environmentl Sciences. Bulletin, 167 April 005. Mcklin, K.S., J.B. Hess, F.S. Bilgili nd R.A. Norton, 005. Bcteril levels of pine shvings nd snd used s poultry litter. J. Appl. Poult. Res., 14: 38-45. Mrtin, S.A. nd M.A. McCnn, 1998. Microiologicl Survey of Georgi Poultry litter J. Appl. Poult. Res., 7: 90-98. Olutiol, P.O., O. Fmurew nd H.G. Sonntg, 1991. An introduction to Generl Microiology. A prcticl pproch Pu. By Hygiene-Institute der universitt Heidelerg, pp: 78-100. Oluyemi, J.A. nd F.A. Roerts, 1988. Poultry Production in Wrm Wet Climtes (low cost edition) Mcmilln Pulishers Ltd London, pp: 1. Ritz, C.W., B.D. Firchild nd M.P. Lcy, 005. Litter qulity nd roiler performnce. Smith, A.J., 001. Poultry CTA Tropicl Agriculturist Series. Mcmilln, London, pp: 7. Steel, R.G.D. nd J.H. Torrie, 1980. Principle nd Procedures of Sttistics. A Biometricl Approch. nd edition. McGrw-Hill Book Co. New York, USA. Townsend, L., 1988. Lesser Melworms or Litter ettles Pu. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Wtson, D.W., 004. The drkling eetle nd the trnsmission of Coronvirusses. World poultry mgzine, Res., pp: 5. 444