PATHOGENIC organisms have long been associated with animals and their wastes. Many studies have shown, however, that pathogens in animal waste are not as numerous, nor do they cover as broad a spec-trum, as those in human waste. A number of pathogenic organisms are identified with diseases transmitted in animal waste: Salmonella, Mycobacterium, Erysipelo-thrix, Leptospira, Clostridium, Bacillus anthracis (food-and-mount-disease virus) (FMD virus), entero-viruses, and helminths. Most pathogens cannot survive outside the host, and those that do seldom multiply. Factors influencing pathogen survival in waste material and soil include waste treatment, moisture, sunlight, pH, temperature, antibiotics, toxic substances, com-petitive organisms, available nutrients, organic matter, and soil type. Researchers have concluded that proper application of animal waste to land rarely causes a health problem for animals or humans; in fact, it is a safe method of waste decontamination.
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Ellis et al. (1978) studied this question.