Microbiological assessment of sludge treatment at the 6[th] October wastewater treatment plant, Giza, Egypt

This study was carried out to assess the sludge treatment processes applied at the 6[th] October wastewater treatment plant [WWTP], Giza, Egypt. The applied processes included aerobic digestion followed by gravity thickening, filter-pressing and drying beds [in emergency cases]. Bacteriological, virological and parasitological evaluation was carried out. Results showed that aerobic digestion removed two log units of total and faecal coliforms and one log unit of Escherichia coli [E. coli] and feacal streptococci. The removal percentages of coliphage and enteroviruses after aerobic digestion were 97.0 and 58.3%, resectively. The salmonellae disappeared from sludge after aerobic digestion. Qualitative and quantitative decrease in helminth ova [Ascaris, Trichuris, Trichostrongylus, Taenia and Hymenoleois] was observed after aerobic digestion and thickening stages. An average decreae of 4 log units for total and faecal coliforms, 3 log units for each of faecal streptococci and coliphage and 2 log units for E. coli through sludge treatment process was observed. Enteroviruses, helminth ova and enteric protozoa were completely eliminated from sludge after 6 months in drying beds. The loads of faecal coliform, E coli, faecal streptococci and coliphage in the dried sludge were 6.5 x 10[2], 1.6 x10[2], 4.5 x 10[2], 4.56 x 10[2] cfu and 8.5 x 10[1] pfu/g, respectively. Microbiological quality of the final treated sludge complied with the regulations of Untied States Environmental Protection Agency

Identification of acanthamoeba strains isolated from a freshwater course in Saudi Arabia

A total of 40 freshwater samples, collected from Wadi Hanifah, were cultured on non- nutrient agar + 1% NaC1 for the detection of Acanthamoeba. Thirty three strains of Acanthamoeba were isolated and subcultured for further identification according to cyst morphology. The isolated strains of Acanthamoeba were found belonging to 4 species which were A. astronyxis, A. Comandoni, A.culbertsoni and A. quina. The optimum and maximum tolerated temperatures for growth as well as the pathogenicity of each strain for mice were also recorded. This water source is hazardous for human use

Gross reactions between some helminthes infesting man and animals

Using double diffusion test, cross reactions were detected between Schistosoma mansoni and each of Fascial gigantica and Setaria equina adult worms antigens. Whole hydatid fluid antigen and hydatid antigens [4 and 5] reacted separately with Schistosoma mansoni, Fasciola gigantica and Setaria equina adult worms. No cross reactions were detected between hydatid antigen [5] and other mentioned helminths