Effects of four different doses of organic manures in the production of Ceriodaphnia cornuta

Mass culture of Ceriodaphnia cornuta was done by using a mixture of organic manures: cattle manure:poultry droppings:mustard oil cake (1:1:1) at four different doses: 0.263 kg/m3 (first dose), 0.526 kg/m3 (second dose), 1.052 kg/m3 (third dose) and 2.104 kg/m3 (fourth dose). The peak of C. cornuta was found on 10th day of inoculum in first two doses and on 14th and 18th day in third and fourth doses, respectively. Among these four doses, significantly (P<0.01) higher numbers of organisms (1930/l) were found in the fourth dose followed by third (1470/l), second (1017/l) and first (733/l) doses, respectively. The number of organisms decreased faster in two lower doses than higher doses. pH ranged from 7.20 to 8.09, 7.46 to 8.01, 7.55 to 7.89 and 7.61 to 8.03 in first, second, third and fourth doses, respectively. Dissolved oxygen showed inverse relationship with the dose of manures applied and direct relationship with number of organisms. This study showed that 3.28-4.63 mg/l dissolved oxygen was optimum to obtain the bloom of C. cornuta under the present manure schedule. Maximum number of organism was found when unionized ammonia and phosphate levels ranged between 0.65-0.85 mg/l and 0.42-0.98 mg/l, respectively. The fourth dose of organic manure is optimum for the culture of C. cornuta in outdoor condition and the bloom of the live food can be obtained within 18 days of inoculum.     

Babesia argentina: the infectivity and immunogenicity of irradiated blood parasites for splenectomized calves

The intraerythrocytic forms of Babesia argentina were exposed to various doses of γ-radiation and then inoculated intravenously into splenectomized calves to study infectivity and immunogenicity of the irradiated parasites. Commencing with a dose of 8 krads, the proportion of organisms capable of multiplication in the host was progressively reduced until complete inhibition of multiplication was obtained with doses in the range of 50–70 krads. After exposures between 20 and 50 krads, the organisms showed reduced rates of multiplication in the host and produced only mild infections that left the surviving recipient animals strongly immune to reinfection. Parasites, completely inhibited by irradiation, did not protect splenectomized calves against challenge infection and behaved immunologically as killed organisms.     

Altered virulence of a pleiotropic Staphylococcus aureus mutant with a low producibility of coagulase and other factors in mice

The virulence of a pleiotropic Staphylococcus aureus mutant with an extremely low producibility of coagulase and other factors was investigated in mouse. A mutant strain, designated as CL-1, showed the same LD50 and the same intrarenal proliferation as its parental strain, when the mutant organisms were inoculated in mice in high doses. The mutant organisms, however, showed a diminished intrarenal proliferation compared with its parental organisms in low doses. This mutant strain expressed a pleiotropic phenotype such as a concomitant reduction in the producibility of coagulase, alpha-toxin, and Panton-Valentine leucocidin. The total effect due to the reduction in producibility of various factors on the virulence of the mutant strain was investigated with studies on the bacterial resistance to the phagocytic activity of leucocytes. A possible role of coagulase and that of some other staphylococcal exoproteins in the pathogenesis of S. aureus were discussed.     

Effect of oxidative processes in lipids on the formation of the biological response during combined exposure to X-rays and chemical agents

It shown that the preliminary administration of the low toxic surfactant (Tween 80) and of acetone at low doses increases the action of the acute X-rays with sublethal and lethal doses on the living organisms. The absence of the linear dependence between the biochemical changes of the lipid peroxidation (LPO) regulatory system and initial levels of parameters of this system was found. The gain of the effect of the action on the LPO intensity in tissues and the changes in the scale and direction of the interrelation between the antioxidative status parameters in murine liver under combined exposure of the damaging factors of the chemical and physical nature was found.     

Biological and electron microscopic changes in gamma radiated Cryptococcus neoformans

Samples ofCryptococcus neoformans were irradiated with various doses of gamma radiation. The relatively low doses, 1–5 × 10⁴ rads, resulted in no obvious effect on the fine structure of the cells but did seriously prevent a large proportion of the organisms from reproducing on agar. When subjected to doses of 1 × 10⁶ rads virtually all the organisms lost their ability to reproduce. When such samples were examined in the electron microcsope, almost all the cells were found to have lost their capsules whereas other aspects of their fine structure remained apparently normal.This work was supported by the Sandy Schneider Memorial Fund and by the United Hospital Fund.     

Antagonistic interrelationships of Bifidobacterium bifidum i Proteus vulgaris in vitro in the digestive tract of gnotobiotic chicks]

The antagonistic relations between Bacterium bifidum, strain I/850 phi, and Proteus vulgaris, strain F-30, were studied. These organisms, when introduced together in equal doses into the digestive tract of gnotobiotic chickens in a single administration, were shown to create certain ecological correlations in various organs with the prevalence of bifidobacteria which exerted no negative influence on Proteus vulgaris. The additional daily administration of bifidobacteria for 3 days running in doses 1000 times as great as the initial dose, the content of both dibifobacteria and Proteus vulgaris in the intestine being at that time at its maximum, resulted in the suppression of the growth of Proteus vulgaris. Our findings indicate that the influence of the pH of the medium should be considered in order to obtain the evidence of significantly pronounced antagonistic relations between the two organisms in vitro.     

The cumulative effect of gamma irradiation on the microbial soil population and its activity

The counts ofAzotobacter, N-fixing clostridia, aerobic cellulose decomposing bacteria, spore formers and actinomycetes were not affected by examined irradiation doses. There were, however, indications of a disturbance in the balance between organisms as evidenced by the rapid increase of actinomycetes and sporeformers during incubation. The effects of various irradiation doses on organic matter decomposition, N-fixing capacity and nitrification power were negligible.     

Assessing the Influence of Biota on Metal Mobility in a Multi-Species Soil System (MS·3)

Multi-species soil systems (MS·3) are homogeneous soil columns that allow a combined assessment of chemical fate and effects on representative soil organisms. Theoretically, the presence of organisms can modify the movement of chemicals in the soil core. This influence was studied for copper and cadmium comparing the results on MS·3 with earthworms and two plant species versus soil columns without organisms. Metals were applied on the top of the soil at three doses: low (3.4 g Cu/ha + 1.7 g Cd/ha), medium (8.5 g Cu/ha + 4.3 g Cd/ha) and high (17 g Cu/ha + 8.5 g Cd/ha). Three organic compounds (pentachlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol and chlorpyrifos) were applied. Toxicity and metal levels in biota followed dose-response relationships. Results showed higher metal concentrations in the depth layers of MS·3 than in the soil columns. The effect was higher for the lower dose, where organisms were less affected, than at the higher doses, where very severe toxicity was observed, confirming the role of organisms in the enhanced mobility.     

The toxic role of alpha-haemolysin in the pathogenesis of experimental Escherichia coli infection in mice

Filtrates from strains of Escherichia coli possessing plasmid-cloned haemolysin (Hly) genes and from strains possessing 'wild' Hly plasmids were lethal for mice on intravenous inoculation; similar doses of preparations from derivatives of these strains in which the Hly genes had been rendered non-functional or which did not possess the 'wild' plasmids were not. Live cultures of both kinds of Hly+ strain usually had a lower lethal dose for mice on intraperitoneal inoculation than the corresponding Hly- forms. Mice that had been inoculated with Hly+ forms had shorter survival times and lower numbers of organisms in peritoneal washings, lungs and blood at point of death than mice that had been inoculated with the corresponding Hly- forms; this was also so for mice pre-treated with FeSO4, a procedure which rendered mice equally susceptible to the lethal effects of the Hly+ and Hly- forms of a strain. In FeSO4-treated mice the numbers of organisms in the tissues of those dying from infection with Hly+ organisms were no higher than they were at the same time after inoculation in others given the corresponding Hly- forms; before mice of the latter category died the numbers of organisms in their tissues increased greatly. The clinical and pathological signs exhibited by mice inoculated with Hly+ organisms, but not with Hly- organisms, resembled those exhibited by mice inoculated with bacteria-free haemolysin preparations. These results suggest that haemolysin played a significant role in the pathogenesis of the disease produced by the Hly+ organisms by having a direct toxic action on the host.     

High levels of microbial contamination of vegetables irrigated with wastewater by the drip method.

The public health aspects of the use of wastewater in agriculture and the effects of the drip irrigation method on the contamination of vegetables were studied. The method used was to simulate enteric microorganisms' dissemination by contaminated irrigation water in the field. The vegetables were irrigated with an effluent inoculated with a high titer of traceable microorganisms: poliovirus vaccine and a drug-resistant Escherichia coli. The dissemination of the marker organisms in the field was followed, and the effects of certain manipulations of the drip irrigation method on the contamination of the crops by the effluent were examined. It was shown that drip irrigation under plastic sheet cover with the drip lines placed either on the soil surface or buried at a depth of 10 cm significantly reduced crop contamination from inoculated irrigation water even when massive doses of bacteria and viruses were used. The microbial contamination was found to persist in the irrigation pipes and in the soil for at least 8 and 18 days, respectively. The data indicate that the recovery of the marker organisms was affected by soil texture and environmental conditions.     

High levels of microbial contamination of vegetables irrigated with wastewater by the drip method.

The public health aspects of the use of wastewater in agriculture and the effects of the drip irrigation method on the contamination of vegetables were studied. The method used was to simulate enteric microorganisms' dissemination by contaminated irrigation water in the field. The vegetables were irrigated with an effluent inoculated with a high titer of traceable microorganisms: poliovirus vaccine and a drug-resistant Escherichia coli. The dissemination of the marker organisms in the field was followed, and the effects of certain manipulations of the drip irrigation method on the contamination of the crops by the effluent were examined. It was shown that drip irrigation under plastic sheet cover with the drip lines placed either on the soil surface or buried at a depth of 10 cm significantly reduced crop contamination from inoculated irrigation water even when massive doses of bacteria and viruses were used. The microbial contamination was found to persist in the irrigation pipes and in the soil for at least 8 and 18 days, respectively. The data indicate that the recovery of the marker organisms was affected by soil texture and environmental conditions.     

Nonstochastic heritable cell lethality in the practice of biotesting of man-made pollutants as inducers of aftereffects

A nonstochastic heritable cell lethality effect was for the first time used in the practice of biotesting in a model of Saccharomyces yeasts for predicting the hazard of low mutagen doses. It was demonstrated that the heritable cell lethality might be induced by multicomponent mutagens of a technogenic nature, for example, sewage waters of gas-transferring plants. The possibility of extrapolation of the results to multicellular organisms is discussed.     

Effect of Naturally Occurring Xanthines on Bacteria: I. Antimicrobial Action and Potentiating Effect on Antibiotic Spectra

The effect of xanthines on various microorganisms was studied. The antibacterial effect was not high; most of the test organisms could easily withstand a concentration of 2,500 μg/ml. Caffeine was more antibacterial than theophylline, and the latter more than theobromine. Caffeine citrate exhibited greater inhibitory effect than did pure caffeine. The effect was both bacteriostatic and bactericidal against susceptible organisms. The susceptibility of organisms to xanthines differed greatly even in related species. The morphology of Aerobacter aerogenes and A. cloacae was affected under the influence of caffeine; filamentation of cells followed sublethal doses. Potentiation was seen with antibiotics and caffeine; resistant strains were killed with a lower dose of drug in the presence of caffeine. This potentiating effect was pronounced with the tetracyclines; with streptomycin, the effect was the contrary.     

Radiation Sterilization: Microbiological Findings from Subprocess Dose Treatment of Disposable Plastic Syringes

S ummary : Disposable plastic hypodermic syringes were taken weekly from commercial production, immediately prior to radiation sterilization, at each of 3 firms. They were irradiated at doses less than that used for sterilization, either with electrons or gamma rays, and tested for sterility. The relationship between the dose applied and the resulting proportion of syringes positive was similar for each firm. Amongst the organisms surviving subnormal process doses was a yeast of unusually high radiation resistance. The possibility of establishing a microbiological quality control procedure based on the routine use of a subprocess dose technique is discussed.     

Production of the mutant E strain of Rickettsia prowazekii by mutagen exposure

The possibility of obtaining the mutants of R. prowazekii, strain E, by exposing these organisms to the action of N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine was studied; this substance, used in doses of 5-10 micrograms, showed a mutagenic effect on rickettsiae suspended in physiological saline, after their exposure for 10-20 minutes at 37 degrees C. The mutants thus obtained proved to be resistant to erythromycin and rifampicin and were characterized by heterogeneity in the degree and stability of their antibiotic resistance. The effectiveness of selection was increased if mutagen-treated rickettsiae were selected after the first passage in chick embryos. The induced mutants differed from the original rickettsial strain by their lower infectiosity for chick embryos.     

Effect of the fungicide chlorothalonil (Bravo) on some metabolic activities of aquatic fungi

Physiological responses ofAchlya proliferoides, Saprolegnia ferax andDictyuchus sterilis as affected by the fungicide chlorothalonil (Bravo) were determined. Glucose consumption differed in dependence on the organisms used. Ammonia and peptide nitrogen secretion were stimulated inS. ferax but inhibited in the other two organisms. All doses of the fungicide used decreased phosphorus absorption and increased acid phosphatase activity. The lowest concentrations (30 ppm) of the fungicide increased DNA, RNA and protein synthesis while inhibition was observed at moderate or high concentrations. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities were inhibited inA. proliferoides, stimulated inS. ferax but remained similar to that of the control inD. sterilis.     

Studies on the resistance/reactivation of Giardia muris cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts exposed to medium-pressure ultraviolet radiation

The ex vivo and in vivo reactivation of Giardia muris cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts after exposure to different doses of ultraviolet (UV) radiation was determined using animal infectivity. The infectivity of UV-treated parasites stored for 1-4 days (G. muris) or 1-17 days (C. parvum) at room temperature in the dark was similar to that of organisms administered immediately after UV treatment, indicating that the parasites did not reactivate ex vivo. In contrast, we observed in vivo reactivation of G. muris in three of seven independent animal infectivity experiments, when parasites were treated with relatively low doses of medium-pressure UV (<25 mJ/cm(2)). Our observations indicate that G. muris cysts and C. parvum oocysts exposed to medium-pressure UV doses of 60 mJ/cm(2) or higher did not exhibit resistance to and/or reactivation following treatment. This suggests that when appropriate doses of UV are used, significant and permanent inactivation of these parasites may be achieved.     

Recovery and viability of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and Giardia intestinalis cysts using the membrane dissolution procedure

Previously, the cellulose acetate membrane filter dissolution method was reported to yield Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst recoveries of 70.5%, with recovered oocysts retaining their infectivity. In contrast, high spike doses (approximately 1 x 10(5) Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and Giardia intestinalis cysts) yielded recoveries ranging from 0.4% to 83.9%, and 3.2% to 90.3%, respectively, in this study. Recoveries with low spike doses (approximately 100 (oo)cysts) continued to demonstrate high variability also. Efforts to optimize the method included increased centrifugation speeds, suspension of the final concentrate in deionized water for organism detection on well slides, and analysis of the entire concentrate. A comparison of two monoclonal antibodies was also conducted to identify potential differences between antibodies in detection of organisms. Archived source and finished water samples were spiked, yielding variable recoveries of C. parvum oocysts (11.8% to 71.4%) and G. intestinalis cysts (7.4% to 42.3%). Effects of organic solvents used in the membrane dissolution procedure on the viability of recovered (oo)cysts was determined using a fluorogenic vital dyes assay in conjunction with (oo)cyst morphology, which indicated > 99% inactivation. These data indicate that the membrane dissolution procedure yields poor and highly variable (oo)cyst recoveries, and also renders the majority of recovered organisms non-viable.     

Nonstochastic heritable cell lethality in the practice of biotesting of man-made pollutants as inducers of aftereffects

A nonstochastic heritable cell lethality effect was for the first time used in the practice of biotesting in a model of Saccharomyces yeasts for predicting the hazard of low mutagen doses. It was demonstrated that the heritable cell lethality might be induced by multicomponent mutagens of a technogenic nature, for example, sewage waters of gas-transferring plants. The possibility of extrapolation of the results to multicellular organisms is discussed.     

Leishmania enriettii: radiation effects and evaluation of radioattenuated organisms for vaccination

The effects of gamma radiation and ultraviolet light on motility, morphology, reproduction, ability to transform from amastigote to promastigote, infectivity, and vaccine potential of Leishmania enriettii were studied. Over 800,000 roentgens (R) was necessary to immobilize immediately the organisms, whereas only 25,000 R rendered them noninfective and 50,000 R made amastigotes unable to transform to promastigotes. Increasing degrees of morphological abnormality were seen with increased radiation doses. Single, double, and triple vaccination with 25,000–100,000 R irradiated organisms had no protective value against L. enriettii.