Occurrences of Salmonella spp. in water and soil sample of the Karnafuli river estuary

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the presence of Salmonella spp. in soil and water sample along with some physio-chemical parameters of water at the Karnafuli river estuary during March-June 2012 from 3 stations. The ranges of measured parameters of water samples were 26.5- 32ºC, 0.0 – 5.0‰, 7.5 – 7.9 and 2.28 – 2.91mg/l for temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO), respectively.. In the present investigation, it was observed that the values of physio chemical parameters in the estuarine area were fluctuated seasonally. Water temp, salinity and pH were within acceptable range according to EQSB and guidelines value of WHO but the concentration of DO decreased significantly indicating the deterioration of estuarine environment including water quality and soil conditions which are influenced by higher bacterial growth in the polluted estuarine zone. Maximum Salmonella spp. concentrations were observed 5cells/ml in soil from one station (St-1) out of 3 total sampling stations during the month of May. The occurrences of Salmonella spp. was not found many of the stations they were absent. Considering the prevailing physio-chemical parameters and bacteriological conditions as detected in this study in the Karnafuli river estuarine water and soil, it appears that the estuarine environment including the water and soils were polluted. Such contaminated water is not suitable for household uses and possibly hazardous to many aquatic animals and human health. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/mh.v1i2.14087 Microbes and Health, 2012 1(2): 41-45