Efficiency Evaluation of a wastewater Treatment Plant by Activated Sludge

Abstract: Performance of El-Agamyeen Plant for wastewater treatment (WWTP) by activated sludge was studied over a period of 20 weeks. Results showed that chemical oxygen demand; COD, biochemical oxygen demand; BOD, total suspended solids; TSS and ammonia decreased through stages of treatment process. The percentage removal of these parameters during studied period ranged 86-95, 91-96, 90-94 and 71-85 % respectively. Dissolved oxygen; DO in aeration tank was not less than 1.2 mg/L during study. Of microfauna, amoebae and flagellates appeared at low DO and high organic load, dominancy of crawling and stalked ciliates affected efficiency of treatment. Rotifers count ranged from 1.3x10 3 to 9x10 4 indicating good sludge quality.High toxicity could be obtained with the inlet wastewater and decreased with mixed liquor; the outlet water has been shown the least average toxic effects (<10% mortality) on the test organism. The results indicated that wastewater treatment in this Plant during the study period reduced pollution significantly and effluent water can be left for discharge into water bodies

Myxidium elmatboulii n. sp. and Ceratomyxa ghaffari n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) parasitic in the gallbladder of the Red Sea houndfish Tylosurus choram (Rüppell, 1837) (Teleostei: Belonidae) from the Red Sea, Egypt

Two new myxosporean species, Myxidium elmatboulii n. sp. and Ceratomyxa ghaffari n. sp., are described from the gallbladder of the Red Sea houndfish Tylosurus choram (Ruppell, 1837) from the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea, Egypt. Diagnostic features of Myxidium elmatboulii n. sp.: plasmodia disporous, spherical in shape. Spores s-shaped with smooth surface and measures 20.7 (19.0-23.0) × 10.6 (9.0-12.0) × 10.4 (8.5-12.0) μm. Polar capsules pyriform with 9-10 polar filaments, measuring 9.10 (8.0-10.0) × 3.8 (3.5-4.0) μm. Spores of Ceratomyxa ghaffari n. sp. slightly crescent-shaped, measuring 7.6 (6.0-9.0) × 29.9 (25.0-33.0) μm. Polar capsules typically rounded, 3.3 (3.0-4.0) μm in diameter with 5 filament turns

Immunological studies on albino rats against crude endotoxins of Aeromonas hydrophila

The genus Aeromonas comprises a group of organisms widely distributed in the environment, isolated from water, shallow tube wells, dug wells, piped water supply from sewage, children and adults with diarrhoea, and associated with disease in animals and man. The present work studied the effect of crude endotoxin injection of such bacteria on the immunological response (innate, humoral and cellular) of albino rats and histochemical changes of the nucleoprotein content within the frozen sections of spleen and thymus. Animals were grouped into two groups; the first group was injected intraperiteonally once every 3 days for 21 days with a crude endotoxin of Aeromonas hydrophila (AhE) as a dose of 8 mg protein/ 0.5 ml PBS/ rat, while the second group remained as control group, injected at the same intervals with an equivalent volume (0.5 ml) of PBS. The results showed a depletion in the total WBCs and lymphocytes, while the neutorphils and monocytes fluctuated. The innate immune response was greatly increased. The endotoxin increased the humoral immune response, while the cell-mediated immune response was decreased. KEY WORDS: Aeromonas, endotoxins, and immunity. Egyptian Journal of Biology Vol.3(2) 2001: 86-9

Lambs Infected with UV-Attenuated Sporocysts of Sarcocystis ovicanis Produced Abnormal Sarcocysts and Induced Protective Immunity against a Challenge Infection

The present study surveyed the prevalence of natural infection of the sheep esphagus muscle with sarcocysts of Sarcocystis ovicanis and examined induction of protective immunity using UV-attenuated sporocysts. The overall prevalence of natural infection of the sheep was 95%. Infectivity of the collected sarcocysts was confirmed by shedding of sporulated oocysts after feeding infected esophageal tissues to dogs. To induce protective immunity, lambs were immunized 3 times (once a week) with 1.5 × 104 sporocysts exposed to UV-light for 30 min (UV-30 group) or 60 (UV-60 group) min and then challenged with 1.5 × 104 normal sporocysts at the 3rd week post the 1st vaccination. These lambs showed high survival and less clinical signs of sarcocystosis than normal infected lambs. The attenuated sporocysts produced abnormal cysts; small in size and detached from the muscle fiber. These abnormalities were more obvious in UV-60 group than UV-30 group. Also, the IFN-γ level and lymphocyte percentage were increased while the total leukocyte count was decreased in the UV-60 group compared with other groups. The high level of IFN-γ may be an evidence for the induction of Th1 responses which may have protective effect against a challenge infection