[USCC] composting carcasses in windrows

[ART KRENZEL]

Has anyone looked into the validity of the recent claims of prion inactivation using alkaline hydrolysis?

 

http://www.animallab.com/articles.asp?pid=447

Efficacy 
In vivo infectivity studies have validated the effectiveness of the alkaline hydrolysis process for the inactivation of prioninfectivity.1 These studies established baseline parameters for the inactivation of prion infectivity and were adopted by the USDA, European Union, and Canadian Food Inspection Agencies. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in an amount sufficient to hydrolyze infected animal tissues was used to achieve prion inactivation. Extending this knowledge to whole carcasses, sufficient KOHis needed to allow for its consumption by carcass components such as fat and protein materials. Using a KOH solution of 1 molar is the current accepted working concentration for use in the complete digestion of typical animal carcasses. 

 

There is more to the article.

 

Art Krenzel
 
> From: wiebebh at mts.net
> To: compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:06:43 -0500
> Subject: [USCC] composting carcasses in windrows
> 
> As Helane Shields points out:
> 
> - research indicates that composting temperatures do not deactivate prions and also that in the 
> soils used in once in soil (although 
> - Iowa State "Due to many unknown factors regarding the biodegradability of the prions that 
> cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy (commonly called BSE or "mad cow" disease), composting 
> should NOT be used for disposal of cattle suspected to have BSE."
> - and that in the soils used by Dr. Joel Pedersen,et al, Wisconsin State, prions can survive 
> for years in soils, and soil can increase the infectivity by a factor of 680.
> 
> However, the temperature is not the only potential degradation/deactivation process for prions 
> during composting. They are organic molecules subject to decomposition and this process needs 
> careful study before disregarding composting solely based on temperature. The work of Pedersen 
> is important but since soils are highly variable and extremely complex his results apply to the 
> soils he used (one should never group all soils and assume they will all react the same way). 
> The article you refer to (PLoS Pathogens, July 2007, Johnson et al.) of which Pedersen is a co-
> author indicates that prions bound to montmorillonite increase oral infectivity by a factor 
> 680. Montmorillonite is not soil it is a pure clay mineral with a very high charge and a large 
> specific surface area and is found in some soils. Montmorillonite is known to protect soil 
> organic matter from degradation by soil microorganisms. In the same article they report using 
> 3 different actual soils and found that 2 out of 3 increased infectivity, the third was 
> equivalent to unbound prions. More recently, "Joel Pedersen, Fabio Russo of the University of 
> Naples and Christopher J. Johnson of UW-Madison, ... and co-authors Chad J. Johnson of the UW-
> Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, and Judd Aiken and Debbie McKenzie of the University of 
> Alberta .. have found that a common soil mineral, an oxidized from of manganese known as 
> birnessite, can penetrate the prion's armor and degrade the protein. The new finding, ... was 
> reported ...in the Journal of General Virology (Jan. 2, 2009). 
> 
> That being said compost is not soil and compost itself is highly variable depending on 
> feedstocks. Therefore we need work looking specifically at prions and SRM/carcasses during the 
> composting process. One researcher working on this is Dr. Xiying Hao at the Lethbridge 
> Research Station of Agriculture and AgriFood Canada ( haoxy at agr.gc.ca ). I am sure if anyone 
> is interested they could contact Xiying directly and she would be happy to discuss this in more 
> detail.
> 
> Brian Wiebe
> Winnipeg, MB
> 
> 
> _______________________________________
> Join us as the US Composting Council's 18th Annual Conference & Trade Show, January 24-27, 2010 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, FL. The Largest Conference & Exhibition in North America for the Composting, Wood Waste, & Organics Recycling Industry. The Most Comprehensive Program of Training Courses, Educational & Technical Presentations, and Facility Tours & "Live" Equipment Demonstrations at the Disney/Reedy Creek Composting Facility. Conference Highlights & Program, Registration forms, Exhibitor Information and Sponsorship Opportunities available at the USCC website www.compostingcouncil.org or call the USCC at 631.737.4931
> _____________________________________________________________________________
> Compost maillist - compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
> http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
> _______________________________________
> This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council (USCC).
> (c) Copyright 2004 United States Composting Council - All rights reserved
> 
> Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the USCC, the Foundation, or the Board of Directors.
> 
> Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through its website at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm
> 
> Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses may have their posting privileges suspended. For discussion list policies and information regarding subscribing, unsubscribing, digest or other options, go to: http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
> 
> For additional help in unsubcribing or to report bugs and problems, send a message to the List Manager at compostlistmanager at compostingcouncil.org