ANIMAL BIOSOLIDS

Information is presented on parasites found in animal manure that are considered to be major potential threats to human health. Included is one pathogen, Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite of cats that has recently become worrisome because of a waterborne outbreak in Canada. Ignored are many pathogens that are unlikely to survive in wastewater treatment system even if they were present, thus, no information is presented on parasites such as the fairly easily destroyed hookworms and schistosomes or other flukes that require snail intermediate hosts. Pathogens in animal manure that are infectious to other animals, e.g., the coccidia of cattle and pigs, have been ignored because they do not pose threats to human health. The present material includes information on important for an understanding of how these organisms behave in wastewater treatment systems and how they protect themselves from various inactivation processes. Also knowledge about the effects of existing treatment modalities on the viability of these organisms is included.