Bacterial and Fungal Damage in Leather

Abstract

Microbial degradation leads to significant loss of quality and economic value by the tanner. This damage cannot be reversed as it involves the degradation of the collagen and elastin fibers, which are important proteins in the leather-making process. It is, therefore, important to carefully monitor the after-slaughter, curing, beamhouse and posttanning processes to prevent this type of damage. This is only possible if you can identify the signs and/or defects caused by bacteria and fungi as early as possible and put in place corrective measures to halt any further or future damage. This study evaluated various techniques for identifying bacterial and fungal damage in leather, including visual inspection, smell, feel, microscopy, and culturing techniques. Samples of cured hides and leather obtained from different sources in the USA were subjected to these techniques to determine the presence of these microbes or to identify their damage. The results highlight various defects and indicators that point to various microbial causes. A combination of visual inspection, microscopy, and culturing techniques can provide hides and skins sellers, packers, and tanners with reliable and accurate identification techniques for identifying early signs of damage. While microscopy was sufficient to observe fungal growth and bacterial damage, culturing was more reliable for identifying the bacterial causative agents. This study highlights the importance of implementing routine inspections and monitoring to prevent continued microbial damage to hides to ensure the quality of the leather.