ABSTRACT
Aims@#The use of herbicide effectively controls weeds in agricultural practice. However, its release to the surrounding surface water bodies may lead to environmental issues. The aim of this study was to isolate the bacteria that were able to remove 2,2-dichloropropionic acid (2,2-DCP) from a paddy field located in Malang. @*Methodology and results@#The 2,2-DCP degrading bacteria were isolated and their ability to grow on higher 2,2-DCP concentrations (50 and 80 mM) was tested. Bacterial degradation of 2,2-DCP was examined through measurement of released chloride ions. The potential isolates were identified according to their 16S rDNA sequences. Two potential isolates, BB9.2 and BC14.3 were observed for their growth on 20, 50, and 80 mM 2,2-DCP. Isolate BC14.3 had the shortest cell doubling time of approximately 4.1 h with 100% 2,2-DCP (20 mM) utilization, whereas BB9.2 was only able to degrade 80% of 2,2-DCP at the same concentration. The 16S rDNA gene sequences suggested that BB9.2 and BC14.3 belong to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Pseudomonas plecoglossicida, respectively. @*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#Bacterial strains with 2,2-DCP degrading potentials were successfully isolated from long-term exposed agricultural soil. They demonstrated notable utilization of the organic halide. This is the first time that strains of A. calcoaceticus and P. plecoglossicida were reported to utilize 2,2-DCP.
ABSTRACT
Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan disease that is caused by Toxoplasma gondii in livestock and humans. Due to its medical and veterinary importance, it is essential to study the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among humans and animals in various parts of the world. The major objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and spatial distribution of toxoplasmosis in small ruminants (sheep and goats) of north-eastern region, Pakistan. A total of 1,000 animals comprising of sheep (n=470) and goats (n=530) were examined for T. gondii infection by using ELISA. An epidemiological data was collected in the form of questionnaire. A surface has been generated by using method of interpolation in Arc GIS with the help of IDW (inverse distance weight). The results showed higher seroprevalence of T. gondii in goats (42.8%) as compared to sheep (26.2%). The seroprevalence was higher in females as compared to males in all examined ruminants. Similarly, there is a wide variation in the seroprevalence of T. gondii in different breeds of sheep and goats showing higher seroprevalence in Teddy (52.8%) and Damani breed (34.5%) of goat and sheep's, respectively. The geographical and spatial distribution of T. gondii shows that it is widely distributed in different parts of the north-eastern region of Pakistan. Our results suggest widespread environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts. It suggests us that small ruminants could be a potentially important source of T. gondii infection if their infected meat is consumed undercooked.