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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
The present study was carried out to envisage the impact of heavy metal i.e. arsenic on the gut bacterial population of epigeic earthworm species, E. eugeniae. For this purpose, three different doses (1.04, 2.09 and 3.13% w/v) of sodium arsenate (Na2HAsO47H2O) were used to treat adult earthworms. The gut samples were serially diluted and inoculated in seven distinct media viz. Jensen's media, King’s medium B base, Burk’s media, Yeast Mannitol Agar media, Vogel- Johnson agar base media, Luria Bertani Broth Miller and Nutrient agar media. Dose dependent decrease in bacterial population was observed in treated worms when compared with control. Significant decrease 64.01%, 43.98%, 21.53%, 37.50%, 44.52%, 33.91% and 26.70% was observed in gut samples isolated from earthworm’s treated with T4 i.e., As(V) (3.13%) as compared to control cultured on Jensen's media, King’s medium B base, Burk’s media, Yeast Mannitol Agar media, Vogel- Johnson agar base media, Luria Bertani Broth Miller and Nutrient agar media respectively. Arsenic poses adverse effect on the health of earthworm as well as alters the microbial population present in gut of earthworms.