Enumeration of total and fecal coliform bacteria in drinking water of Khairpur Sindh

The number and range of total coliform and fecal coliform bacteria were analyzed in the drinking water of Khairpur city to determine the quality of the water supplied to the residents of the city. The bacteriological study was carried out for indicator organisms i.e total coliform and fecal coliform [E. coli] by membrane filtration methods. A total of 90 samples were collected from three sites, thirty samples each from main reservoir [water works], distribution line and consumer taps [households, hotels and schools]. All samples were found contaminated [100%] with total coliform [TC] as well as fecal colifom [FC] bacteria. The counts were higher than the maximum microbial contaminant level established by World Health Organization [WHO]. The higher densities of bacteria were found in consumer taps [4-4.30 log cfu/100 ml] per 100 ml, followed by distribution line [3.79-4.20] and main reservoir [3-3.94 log cfu] per 100 ml total and fecal coliform. The pH and residual chlorine of water samples were also determined. It was observed that pH was within the limits of WHO standard [6.5-8.5], the residual chlorine was not detected in any sample of drinking water

Effect of growth medium on the production of streptolysin S

The effect of growth medium on the production of Streptolysin S [SLS] was examined. Two media, Brain heart infusion broth [BHIB] from different sources [Oxoid and Difco] were used for comparative studies of SLS. Two strains, strain C203S and strain 55903M were tested and it was observed that both strains under investigation grew to high cell density in either Oxoid or Difco BHIB but only cells grown in Difco culture medium gave high yields of SLS

Neutrophils: activities and functions

There are three types of polymorphonuclear leucocytes: the neutrophils, the basophils and the eosinophils, each serving separate functions and differentiated by the staining reactions of their prominent cytoplasmic granules. The neutrophils are the most numerous, comprising 70% of the total leucocytes in blood, and are the cells generally referred to as "polymorphs".They contain two or three types of granules, whose enzymes include peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, nucleotidase, glucuronidase, and lysozyme. The phagocyte is the most powerful and most important part of the defences that can operate without delay against the invading microorganism after the epithelial surface has been breached. Various substances released from bacteria attract phagocytes, but their activity is generally weak. Other bacterial substances react with complement to generate chemotactic factors such as C5a. Microorganisms can avoid the attentions of phagocytic cells by inhibiting chemotaxis, and as a result of this the host is less able to focus polymorphs and macrophages into the exact site of infection