BackgroundNontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been reported to be increasing worldwide and its geographic distribution differs by region. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and distribution of NTM in the eastern part of China.MethodsSputum samples were collected from 30 surveillance sites for tuberculosis drug resistance test from May 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Identification was performed using a biochemical test, multiplex PCR and GenoType Mycobacterium CM/AS assay.ResultsA total of 1779 smear positive clinical isolates were obtained, of which 60 (3.37%) were NTM. Five species/complex of NTM were identified; M. intracellulare was the predominated species (68.33%), followed by M. abscessus-M. immunogenum (13.33%), Mycobacterium spec. (10.00%), M. Kansasii (6.67%) and M. peregrinum-M. alvei-M. septicum (1.67%).Conclusion
M. intracellulare was the main species of NTM in the eastern part of China and clinical physicians should pay more attention to NTM induced pulmonary disease.
Free-living marine nematodes were employed in ecological studies and were proven to be suitable bioindicators of pollution-induced effects on the benthic domain. This study represents the first attempt to use nematode descriptors in order to assign ecological quality (EcoQ) status to areas along the Sarawak coasts, thus integrating the methods actually applied by the Department of Environment (DOE). Three nematode parameters, i.e. colonizer-persister percentage, maturity index (MI), and Shannon diversity index (H ), were used, as they are recognized as the best descriptors of EcoQ status in coastal habitats. The thresholds applied to the nematode parameters for the Sarawak study sites showed predominantly moderate and bad EcoQ status, with the exception of the Similajau site, which being close to a national park was found to have good EcoQ. The sites with the worst EcoQ were characterized by low salinity values, suggesting riverine inflows as a primary source of pollution, likely from the discharge of untreated wastes. This was confirmed by both the H and MI indices, which showed a close positive relation with salinity. Results obtained for the Niah site may suggest that Btraces^of pollution were left in the nematode assemblages that could not be detected from other parameters of the water column. This investigation shows that analysis of nematode descriptors could be effectively applied to ecological assessment criteria within environmental policies of rapid growth countries such as Malaysia. Furthermore, it certainly suggests the need for management and conservation actions in the Sarawak coasts aimed at more sustainable use of the marine resources to prevent the loss of biodiversity.
Sodium alginate is the most commonly used polymer matrix in microalgae immobilization for water treatment. However, the susceptibility of alginate matrixes to cation chelating agents and antigelling cation limits the use of alginates in estuarine and marine systems. Hence, the present study aims to investigate the stability of alginate bead in marine water and the feasibility of microalgae to grow when immobilized in alginate bead for marine water treatment. Different concentrations of alginate and hardening cation calcium were used to formulate beads. The beads were incubated in Guillard's f/2 medium and shaken vigorously by using orbital shaker for 15 days. The results indicated that bead stability was enhanced by increasing alginate and CaCl 2 concentrations. Subsequently, the marine microalga, Nannochloropsis sp., was immobilized in calcium alginate bead. The growth and ammoniacal-nitrogen (NH 4 + -N) uptake by immobilized cell were compared with free cell culture in f/2 medium. Specific growth rate of immobilized cell (0.063 hr −1 ) was significantly higher than free cell (0.027 hr −1 ). There was no significant difference on specific uptake rate of free cell and immobilized cell; but immobilized cell removed significantly more NH 4 + -N (82.2%) than free cell (47.3%) culture at the end of the experiment. The present study demonstrated the potential use of alginate immobilization technique in marine microalgae culture and water treatment simultaneously.
The nematode Pseudoplatycoma malaysianis n. gen. n. sp. is described from the Sulu Sea (Malaysia). The new genus is classified in the subfamily Platycominae Platonova 1976. Revision of the new genus and four other genera in Platycominae, resulted in four species from the genus Platycomopsis being transferred to other genera: P. dimorphica and P. mazjatzavi to the genus Platycoma; P. effilata to the genus Micoletzkyia; and P. gibbonensis to the genus Anticoma. Pilosinema is regarded as a asynonym of Platycomopsis and Platycomopsis paracobbi is regarded as a synonym for P. cobbi. A key for identification of the genera and species of Platycominae is presented.
The community structure of marine nematode assemblages in the southern-west of Borneo was investigated with special focus on the horizontal distribution from high tide to subtidal area. A transect study had been conducted in Teluk Awar. Nine stations were chosen from the Mean High Water Neap to Mean Low Water Neap level. The physico-chemical characteristic of water and sediments were determined both ex situ. One-way ANOVA showed that the environmental variables among stations were significantly different (except chlorophyll a and total organic matter). Multi-dimensional scaling demonstrated three distinct patterns among the stations while dendrogram showed high dissimilarity percentage in the species distribution among stations. In conclusion, the results showed that environmental variables such as clay, total organic matter and temperature were affecting the nematode distribution pattern in Teluk Awar.
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