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Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Year: 2011 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 6 | Page No.: 621-629
DOI: 10.3923/jest.2011.621.629
Removal of Pathogens during Vermi-Stabilization
Rahul Kumar and Shweta

Abstract: Earthworm promises to provide cheaper solutions to several social, economic and environmental problems plaguing the human society. Their body work as ‘bio-filter’ and they can ‘purify’ and also ‘disinfect’ and ‘detoxify’ the solid wastes. They are both protective and productive for environment and society. The microbiomics of gut worm (Eisenia foetida Savigny) and their association with vermistabilization was studied to determine the quantification of microbial groups in reactors. Worms were reared in three reactors viz. rice, straw, sugarcane trash, kitchen waste along with cow dung in 2:1 ratio for seventy days. The microbial load (Pseudomonas sp., Streptosporangium sp., Salmonella sp., Shigella sp. Flexibacter sp. and Escherichia sp.) in gut and cast, total nitrogen, potassium, organic carbon in reactors was determined, periodically. The microbial population in gut and reactors were determined using pour plate method The microbiomics of gut and casting revealed the removal of Salmonella (12-17x103±0.02 to 0-4x103±0.05 cfu g-1), Shigella (3-5x103±0.04 to 0.00±0.08 cfu g-1), Flexibacter (6-10x104±0.05 to 00.0±0.05 cfu g-1), Escherichia (8x102±0.02 to 0.00-1x101±0.05 cfu g-1) during vermistabilization, indicating the selective nature of feeding of earthworms which helps in the removal of pathogens as they enter in food chain of worms. However, increase in the number of Pseudomonas (13-16x104±0.05 to 18-22x105±1.0 cfu g-1), Streptosporangium (12-14x104±0.05 to 18-20x105±1.0 cfu g-1) seems to be responsible for reduction of pathogens and mineralization of other organics during the waste degradation process.

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How to cite this article
Rahul Kumar and Shweta , 2011. Removal of Pathogens during Vermi-Stabilization. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 4: 621-629.

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