Lead (Pb) is the most common heavy metal contaminant in the environment. Pb is not an essential element for plants, but they absorb it when it is present in their environment, especially in rural areas when the soil is polluted by automotive exhaust and in fields contaminated with fertilizers containing heavy metal impurities. To investigate lead effects on nutrient uptake and metabolism, two plant species, spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and wheat (Triticum aestivum), were grown under hydroponic conditions and stressed with lead nitrate, Pb(NO3)2, at three concentrations (1.5, 3, and 15 mM). Lead is accumulated in a dose-dependent manner in both plant species, which results in reduced growth and lower uptake of all mineral ions tested. Total amounts and concentrations of most mineral ions (Na, K, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn) are reduced, although Mn concentrations are increased, as its uptake is reduced less relative to the whole plant's growth. The deficiency of mineral nutrients correlates in a strong decrease in the contents of chlorophylls a and b and proline in both species, but these effects are less pronounced in spinach than in wheat. By contrast, the effects of lead on soluble proteins differ between species; they are reduced in wheat at all lead concentrations, whereas they are increased in spinach, where their value peaks at 3 mM Pb. The relative lead uptake by spinach and wheat, and the different susceptibility of these two species to lead treatment are discussed.

Plant biology and pathology / Biologie et pathologie ve ´ge ´tales Lead phytotoxicity on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed germination and seedlings growth Phytotoxicite´du Plomb lors de la germination et la croissance du ble( Triticum aestivum L.

Background: Flies and cockroaches are two insects in close contact with human beings. They are carriers of human pathogenic bacteria on the external areas of their bodies or in their digestive tracts. This study examines Periplaneta americana and Musca domestica collected from the residential areas of six districts in Tangier, Morocco. Methodology: In total, 251 bacteria were isolated from external areas of the participants' bodies and the antimicrobial susceptibility was calculated. Results: The predominant bacterial species included Escherichia coli (17.9%), Klebsiella spp. (14.7%), Providencia spp. (9.6%), Staphylococcus spp. (15.1%) and Enterococcus spp. (11.6%). The study showed no difference between the species of bacterial strains from American cockroaches and houseflies. Carbapenems and aminoglycosides were active against 100% of the Gram-negative bacilli isolated in this study. Staphylococcus spp. strains were susceptible to linezolid, vancomycin, daptomycin, levofloxacin and cotrimoxazole, and no antibiotic resistance was found in Enterococcus spp. Conclusions: In our setting, although both cockroaches and flies collected from residential areas may be vectors of human pathogenic bacteria, the infections caused by them are easily treatable as a result of the high susceptibility of their bacteria to antibiotics routinely used in the community or in hospitals.

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In Morocco, the epidemiological surveillance of imported Malaria still be the pillar of the eradication strategy of the disease as part of environmental health. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological profile of malaria in north region of Morocco. It is retrospective descriptive study, based on program reports, carried out from 28 April 2019 to 18 February 2020 covering 2014-2018 period. The statistical analysis is performed by Epiinfo 7. In total, 59 cases of imported Malaria were reported. Tangier-Assilah province presented the majority of the cases (62.7%). The frequency was highest in 2018 with 35,2% (19) of cases. The male patient (79.7%) and the age of] 15-30] years (50%) were the most detected. 55.5% of the cases had a Moroccan nationality and were travelling from Guinea (33.9%). Diagnosis was conducting less than 2 days in 75% since the onset of clinical signs. The parasite was Plasmodium falciparum for 84.7% of Malaria cases. In conclusion, to prevent the risk of re-emergence of the disease in the region, the prevention and control measures against the imported malaria can be established at the regional as well as national level to achieve the objective of the malaria eradication in Morocco.