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Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2005 | Volume: 8 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 235-238
DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2005.235.238
Persistence of Pathogens in Heavy Metals Contaminated Environment
Rafia Azmat, Farah Naz, Tanveer Khanum and Aliya Hayat

Abstract: A prospective study has been carried out to ascertain the persistence of pathogens in heavy metals contaminated environment at SITE and Hub river industrial area Karachi. The vegetable (spinach) was selected to analyze heavy metals contents like Co, Hg, Ni, Pb, Fe, Na and K. Spinach growing in this contaminated water contain a great number of pathogens like E. coli (fecal Coliforms), Staphylococci, Bacillus, Aeromonas, Salmonella, Shigella and Vibrios. More over most of these organisms were found to be resistant against a variety of antibiotics. Microbes were isolated by standard methods by utilizing different selective medias for their growth and their sensitivities were determined by disc diffusion method. Metals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

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How to cite this article
Rafia Azmat, Farah Naz, Tanveer Khanum and Aliya Hayat, 2005. Persistence of Pathogens in Heavy Metals Contaminated Environment. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 8: 235-238.

Keywords: pathogenic micro organisms, heavy metals, Spinach and antibiotic resistant

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