In this study, we investigate the used of IMO produce from cooked rice in rice straw composting. The objective of this study is to identify the effect of composting using IMO and different combination of biowaste on composting of rice straw. Methodology and results: Different types of treatment were used involving rice straw and goat manure with addition or non-addition of IMO. Composting was done for 30 days in a plastic barrel and was manually turned. Temperature was measured daily while samples were analysed for moisture content, pH value and electrical conductivity (EC). Temperatures in rice straw compost contains goat manure have higher values up to 43 °C. Rice straw compost with treatment of IMO contain pro-long thermophilic phase compared to treatment without IMO. pH recorded 7.0-8.7 during the process with slight fluctuation due to the microbial activities present. EC showed higher value in rice straw compost with goat manure due to the present of soluble salt in manure. Throughout the composting time, we observed the reduction of moisture value ranging from 43% to 34%. Microbial succession in compost treated with IMO showed high population with 3.16×109 CFU/g for mesophilic microorganism during the initial phase and 7.9×108 CFU/g for thermophilic microorganism. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Hence, it can be concluded that the IMO introduce during composting provide higher diversity of microorganisms and could pro-long the thermophilic phase, thus accelerating the process of degradation.
Colony Count, Microbial

OBJECTIVESThis study is to monitor the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in the aquatic microcosm from Han River and explore the feasibility of fluorescence staining, heterotrophic plate count and ELISA in detection of viable but nonculturable E. coli O157:H7.

METHODSE. coli O157:H7 were added into aquatic microcosm from Han River and cultured with low temperature and oligo-nutrition. Then the survival of E. coli O157:H7 were real-time monitored by acridine orange direct count (AODC), direct viable count (DVC)-CTC staining, DVC-nalidixic acid (NA) staining, heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and ELISA.

RESULTSE. coli O157:H7 can be converted to a viable but nonculturable state in the aquatic microcosm from Han River 58 days after cultured at 4°C with oligo-nutrition. The amount of viable E. coli O157:H7 was measured as 1.2 × 10(5) CFU/ml by DVC-CTC and 9.0 × 10(4) CFU/ml by DVC-NA, whereas the amount of culturable bacterial determined by HPC is 0. The amounts of bacteria determined by ELISA are basically stable within 58 days around 10(6) CFU/ml.

CONCLUSIONE. coli O157:H7 can be converted into a viable but nonculturable state in Han River water at 4°C with oligo-nutrition, and ELISA combined with fluorescence staining and heterotrophic plate count can be used in quantitative detection of the viable but nonculturable E. coli O157:H7.

PURPOSE: Fungi have been known to be important aeroallergens for hundreds of years. Most studies have focused on total fungal concentration; however, the concentration of specific allergenic fungi may be more important on an individual basis. METHODS: Ten fungal allergic patients and 2 non-fungal allergic patients were enrolled. The patients with a decrease in physician or patient global assessment by more than 50% of their personal best were considered to have an exacerbation of allergic symptoms and to be in the active stage. Those who maintained their physician and patient global assessment scores at their personal best for more than 3 months were considered to be in the inactive stage. The concentrations of dominant fungi in the patients' houses and outdoors were measured by direct and viable counts at active and inactive stages. RESULTS: The exacerbation of allergic symptoms was not correlated with total fungal spore concentration or the indoor/outdoor ratio (I/O). Specific fungi, such as Cladosporium oxysporum (C. oxyspurum), C. cladosporioides, and Aspergillus niger (A. niger), were found to be significantly higher concentrations in the active stage than in the inactive stage. Presumed allergenic spore concentration threshold levels were 100 CFU/m3 for C. oxysporum, and 10 CFU/m3 for A. niger, Penicillium brevicompactum and Penicillium oxalicum. CONCLUSIONS: The major factor causing exacerbation of allergic symptoms in established fungal allergic patients may be the spore concentration of specific allergenic fungi rather than the total fungal concentration. These results may be useful in making recommendations as regards environmental control for fungal allergic patients.
Aspergillus niger ; Cladosporium ; Colony Count, Microbial* ; Family Characteristics ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Niger ; Penicillium ; Spores* ; Spores, Fungal

OBJECTIVETo determine the presence and levels of microbes in unexpired pasteurized milk from randomly selected supermarkets in Kingston, Jamaica.

METHODSThe quantitative study used a stratified random sampling technique in the selection of the 20 representative milk samples from six (6) supermarkets. Microbiological tests such as methylene blue reduction, standard plate count (SPC), coliform plate count (CPC), purity plate culture, gram staining and biochemical tests were performed to examine the microbes in purchased unexpired pasteurized milk.

RESULTSOne sample (BCr016) had a pH of 4.0, a rancid odour and curdled appearance. It decolourized within one hour during the methylene blue reduction test and was classified as class 4 milk. Seven of the samples were sterile with no microbe growth on the plate count agar and violet red bile salt agar (VRBA). The milk samples that appeared to be safe for consumption were all 10, 11, 12 and 13 days before expiration. The VRBA sample BCr016, had a colony count of 13 400 CFU/ mL. There was the presence of Escherichia coli in sample LCr021 which had a standard plate count of 1 580 SPC/mL and a coliform count of 500 CFU/mL. Enterobacter sp. was present in colonies from BCr016 and all the other milk samples.

CONCLUSIONSUnacceptable levels of Enterobacter spp. and Escherichia coli were found in most of the samples. Effective measures to ensure safe milk for human consumption such as the phosphatase test and methylene blue reduction test should be routinely performed on each batch of milk processed by dairy plants.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of 4 different methods for disinfection of simple breathing vesicles and microbial residue.

METHODSThe disinfection tests were divided into 4 groups: G1 group (43 cases) with 500 mg/L chlorine dioxide spray, G2 group (28 cases) with alcohol spray, G3 group (47 cases) with 50 mg/L trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) immersion, and G4 group (46 cases) with 50 mg/L chlorine dioxide solution immersion. After 30 min of disinfection, each group was examined by bacterial culture and colony count. The residual bacteria were identified and typed.

RESULTSThe 4 methods showed significant differences in bacterial colony count (P<0.001). The rate of bacterial residue was 0% in G1 group, 53.6% in G2 group, 27.7% in G3 group, and 21.7% in G4 group, showing significant differences between the 4 groups (P<0.001). The residual bacteria included antibiotic-resistant common opportunistic pathogen such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus haemolytic.

CONCLUSIONSDisinfection with 500 mg/L chlorine dioxide spray is the best for simple breathing vesicles. Prolonged immersion in TCCA may lead to the growth of drug-resistant pathogens in the breathing vesicles.

OBJECTIVETo determine whether Acanthamoeba polyphaga could affect the survival and growth of Vibrio cholerae O139 in low temperature.

METHODSV. cholerae O139 was co-cultured with the Acanthamoeba polyphaga to be examined on its intracellular growth and survival rate within cysts at low temperature, using methods as Gram-staining, electron microscope and passage culture.

RESULTSV. cholerae O139 were observed to enter into the trophozoites and grow the within the vacuoles after 8 hour incubation with Acanthamoeba polyphaga. The germs survived in the vacuole and/or endo-layer of wall and could be re-isolated from the excystment of Acanthamoeba polyphaga. At 30 degrees C, V. cholerae O139 could survive for 120 days with the amoeba while less than 45 days in PAS. At 4 degrees C, the number of viable bacteria decreased and reached undetectable levels for both study and control groups after a 30-day incubation. V. cholerae O139 could be re-isolated from the 30-, 45-, 60- and 75-day's infected cysts after excystment. However the ability of excystment for 90-day's infected cysts decreased and V. cholerae O139 within the cyst could not be isolated again because the amoebae had lysed.

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicated that V. cholerae O139 could grow within Acanthamoeba polyphaga and the survival time could be increased in the cysts at low temperature. It seemed that Acanthamoeba can provide an environmental reservoir for V. cholerae O139.

Transmission electron microscopy of an Acanthamoeba isolate (KA/L5) from a contact lens case revealed bacterial endosymbionts within cytoplasm of the amoebae. The Acanthamoeba isolate belonged to the morphological group II. Based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of 18S ribosomal RNA coding DNA (rDNA), the isolate was identified as A. lugdunensis. Strain typing by isoenzyme analysis using isoelectric focusing (IEF) and mitochondrial (Mt) DNA RFLP revealed that the isolate was closely related with KA/L1, the most predominant type of isolates from contact lens storage cases, KA/E2, a clinical isolate, KA/W4, previously reported to host endosymbionts, and L3a strains of A. lugdunensis. The endosymbionts were similar to those of KA/W4 in aspects that they were randomly distributed in both trophozoites and cysts, and were rod-shaped bacteria measuring approximately 1.38 x 0.50 microns. But the number of endosymbionts per amoeba was significantly lower than that of KA/W4. They were neither limited by phagosomal membranes nor included in lacunaelike structure.
Acanthamoeba/microbiology* ; Acanthamoeba/cytology ; Animal ; Bacteria/isolation & purification* ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Contact Lenses* ; Cytoplasm/microbiology ; Symbiosis*

The objective of the investigation was to study the application of ultrasound reactor technology (USRT) as a disinfectant for reduction of fungi from sewage effluent. Fungi are carbon heterotrophs that require preformed organic compounds as carbon sources. USRT is an attractive means to improve water quality because of the system simplicity and no production of toxic by-products. An ultrasound reactor produces strong cavitation in aqueous solution causing shock waves and reactive free radicals by the violent collapse of the cavitation bubble. These effects should contribute to the physical disruption of microbial structures and inactivation of organisms. There was significant reduction in fungal growth, with decreased fungal growth with increasing USRT. In this study, ultrasound irradiation at a frequency of 42 kHz was used to expose suspensions of fungi to evaluate the disinfection efficacy of the ultrasound reactor. Also, this study showed that in this system more than 99% reduction of sewage fungi was achieved after 60 min.
Colony Count, Microbial ; Disinfection ; methods ; Fungi ; growth & development ; isolation & purification ; Sewage ; microbiology ; Ultrasonics

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, there are many methods to reduce microorganisms in the air, such as dehumidifier, air purifier or humidity and temperature controller. The Precise Climate Controller is an instrument for controlling humidity and temperature, a concept that is demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of this device, in order to reduce the quantity of the fungi and bacteria in the closed system.
Air Conditioning ; Air Filters ; Aspergillus flavus ; Bacteria ; Climate ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Fungi ; Humidity

Aquatic fungi from four brackish water lakes; Edku, Burullus and Manzala lakes which are located at the northern region of Egypt and Qarun lake that located in El-Fayoum city are reported in this manuscript. Twenty-nine fungal species which belong to 19 genera of aquatic fungi were recovered from water samples collected from the studied lakes. The most frequently isolated fungal species were Chytridium conferrop, Allomyces throughout and Rhizoclosmatium globosum. Thraustochytrium amoeboidum and Leptolegniella exoosporus have a moderately occurrence frequency. The maximum fungal count of recovered aquatic fungi was recorded in Burrullus lake followed by EdKu, Manzala and Qarun lakes. This study was extended to test the ability of six selected aquatic fungi (Brevilegniella keratinophila, Blastocladiella cystogena, Chytridium conferrop, Entophlyctis variabilis, Schizochytrium mangrovei and Thraustochytrium rosii), to uptake the radionuclide from their culture medium as a step to biologically treat the waste water or solution with radio-cesium and radio-cobalt. Fifty seven % of Cs-137 and 35% of Co-60 could be removed from liquid waste by the selected aquatic fungi.
Allomyces ; Blastocladiella ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Egypt ; Fungi* ; Lakes* ; Radioactive Waste* ; Waste Water ; Water