ABSTRACT
Aim: The study aimed to assess the influence of heavy metal pollution in river Sutlej around the industrial city of Ludhiana. Methodology: Samples of water, sediment and commercially important selected fish species were collected before (S-1) and after (S-2) the confluence of Buddah Nallah in river Sutlej for the estimation of heavy matals using Atomic Absorption Mass Spectrometer, equipped with transverse graphite furnace tube for electro thermal determination of lead, copper, chromium and zinc. Results: he water, sediment and fish samples collected from the site, S-2 showed higher concentration of heavy metals compared site S-1. All the metals studied were found within the permissible limit of different National and International agencies, except for the lead which was found above the permissible limit in fish, Wallago attu. Interpretation: The results reveal that river Sutlej around Ludhiana city is under severe threat of pollution due to the discharge of industrial effluents from the Buddha Nallah
ABSTRACT
Serum specimens were collected from 6 species of animals living in 9 states of Malaysia including Sabah, North Borneo in 1993. Antibodies against Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus in these sera were detected by means of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and neutralization (NT) tests. By HI test, 702 of 2,152 (32.6%) sera showed positive results. Higher positive rates were obtained by the NT test, in which 1,787 of 1,927 (92.7%) sera had antibodies against JE virus. All serum specimens with positive HI were confirmed as positive by the NT. Swine sera showed especially higher rates of antibody positive and higher antibody titers compared with other animals. These results suggest that JE infections are widely distributed among many animals of Malaysia, and pig is the most susceptible amplifier host for JE virus.