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Volume 4, Issue 4, April – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

A Survey of Ciliates (Ciliophora, Chromista) from


Groundwater in Mansoura, Egypt
Ahmed E. Hagras1, Sayed A. El-Tantawy2, Ahmed M. El- Naggar3, Engy A. Abo El-makarm
1. Professor of Environmental science, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Egypt.
2. Professor of Invertebrates and Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Egypt.
3. Professor of Environmental science, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Egypt.

Abstract:- An analysis of the physicochemical should be maintained between the rate of consumption and
parameters was carried out, and a survey has been made replenishment. When the rate of groundwater consumption
of the ciliates communities in groundwater pumped from is greater than replenishment rate, water pollutants and
a domestic well in Sandoub locality, Mansoura, Egypt dissolved solids may show extreme values and make
during the period from August 2016 to July 2017. groundwater invalid for human and animal consumption
Members of Litostomatea dominated the ciliates (Gao et al., 2014).
community, followed by Phyllopharyngea, then
Oligohymenophorea and Spirotrichea. Each ciliate Protists can modify the composition of bacterial
species preferred a particular season, but was not community and alter biogeochemical processes such as
encountered in other seasons. The number of each ciliate carbon transfer in groundwater systems (Longnecker et al.,
was obviously low and did not exceed two individuals/ 2009) and biodegradation of organic matter in aquifer
one mm3 groundwater. Analysis of the physicochemical sediments (Cunningham et al., 2009; Harvey et al., 2002).
features of water indicated that this groundwater source Ciliates are the most common biota in different habitats
is safe and slightly alkaline; however persistent providing sufficient amount of nutrients, moisture and
pathogenic organisms should be eliminated by proper appropriate microhabitats (Hattori, 1994). Knowledge on
treatment methods. the ciliates can present in egyptian groundwater are limited
so the aim of this study is to explore the community of
Keywords:- Egypt, Mansoura, Physicochemical Factors, groundwater ciliates from a domestic well in Sandoub,
Groundwater, Ciliates. Mansoura, Egypt.

I. INTRODUCTION II. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Water is the prime and most abundant natural resource Water samples were collected seasonally during the
promoting all aspects of life over the biosphere. This period from August (2016) to July (2017) from a domestic
precious liquid occupies approximately 71% of the earth, of groundwater well which attains a depth of approximately
which 97.5% is salty water and only 2.5% is freshwater, 40m and was operated four years ago. This well is affected
Less than 1% of the freshwater is accessible for human, by agricultural, industrial and household seepages at
animals and plants (Mishra and Dubey, 2015). Despite the Sandoub, Mansoura, Dakahlia governorate, Egypt. The
popular impression that groundwater is protected from water samples were collected in 30L clean and dry
contaminants, scientists are monitoring situations of containers, and filtered independently with a vacuum pump
pollution in aquifers nearby factories, power plant farms, and cellulose acetate membrane filter (0.45µm, 110mm).
and overpopulated areas around the globe (Sampat, 2000). After filtration, the deposit was centrifuged for 10min. at
Large cities in Europe, Africa and Asia depend on the 3000 rpm. Only 5ml of the pellet (deposit) was withdrawn
groundwater especially surface one. The groundwater and fixed in 10% formalin to be ready for examination
supplies are promising donors for the future in rural areas under high power light microscope. Smears of water were
and nations suffering food deficiency and water crisis. stained with Giemsa (Pohlenz et al. 1978), Ziehl Neelsen
(Murray et al. 1999) as well as alcoholic eosin and
Naturally, sediments and geological structures hold methylene-blue (Muir and Ritchie, 1913). Stains were
relative amounts of ions which are transported into the prepared, filtered and preserved in amber colored glass
groundwater flowing over these structures. This mineralized bottles. The ciliates were identified according to Kudo
water is stored in pores and fractures inside the geological (1977) and classified according to (Ruggiero et al., 2015).
formations and finally ends up in permanent deep reservoirs
called aquifers (Harter, 2003). These water courses are III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
supplemented either from river basins or surface runoff
created by rainwater and human activities in urban and The results of taxonomic position and seasonal
suburban areas. Some mineral salts or dissolved solids may occurrence of ciliates [Plate (1A-1E)] are shown in table (1).
have created in rainfall or river water that recharges the A total of 30 species of ciliates were identified and
aquifer. As a result, a variety of contaminants may be categorized into 8 classes: Litostomatea, Phyllopharyngea,
blended and become persistent with other components of the Oligohymenophorea, Spirotrichea, Colpodea, Heterotrichea,
groundwater. To obtain clean groundwater, an equilibrium Prostomatea and Rostomatea. Physicochemical analyses of

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Volume 4, Issue 4, April – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
the water samples are documented in table (2). No clear mean 4.32 mg/L ±1.02. Biological oxygen demand
seasonal pattern was demonstrated for the populations of fluctuated between 2.18 and 4.63mg/L, with mean 3.46
ciliates encountered in the studied water samples. Although mg/L ±0.80. Table (2) also indicates that water temperature
the maximum values of NO22-, NO3- and pH were recorded fluctuated from 17.90 to 31.70°C, with mean 24.43°C ±4.83.
in June, during which the minimum value of BOD was The pH level ranged from 7.07 to 8.76 with mean 8.02
estimated. ±0.50 indicating that this groundwater source is relatively
alkaline. The highest levels of NO3- , BOD5 and pH were
From table (1) and plate (1), it could be noticed that documented in June, while the lowest levels of NO3-, NO22-,
each organism attains dramatic changes in occurrence, being P and temperature were determined in December (Table 2).
encountered during a particular season and absent in others
seasons. Regarding class: Colpodea, Bresslaua sp. occurred Data recorded in table (2) indicate also that the studied
only during winter, whereas Tillina magna occurred during groundwater is slightly alkaline, moderately oxygenated,
autumn. The class: Heterotrichea is represented by only one incorporates relatively considerable amount of nitrates and
species, namely Stentor amethystinus which was recorded potassium. However, this groundwater source is
only during autumn. Similarly, class: Prostomatea and class: phosphorous-poor and contains safe levels of nitrites.
Rostomatea were represented by only one species
(Pelatractus grandis and Coleps hirtus, respectively). Both The present physicochemical evaluation indicated no
species were found only during winter, however they were clear relationship between dissolved oxygen and water
not encountered during the remainder of the year. Class: temperature as well as between dissolved oxygen and
Phyllopharyngea was represented by 6 species, namely hydrogen ion concentration. Aquatic algae produced oxygen
Chilodochona quennerstedti, Chlamydodon mnemosyne, by photosynthesis during day time and consume it by
Parapodophrya typha, Pseudogemma sp., Scyphidia sp. and respiration during night. In the presence of large populations
Tokophrya sp. The former species was only encountered of aquatic algae, are likely to experience the greatest DO
during spring, whereas the later species was only observed fluctuations. The DO concentration is usually lowest just
during autumn. The occurrence of Parapodophrya typha, before sunrise, and highest in late afternoon (Caduto, 1990).
Pseudogemma sp. and Scyphidia sp. was recorded only Generally, the groundwater is colder than surface waters;
during winter. However, Tokophrya cyclopum was only colder water holds more oxygen than warmer water
observed during summer. (Caduto, 1990).

Concerning class: Litostomatea, Amphileptus sp., The primary source of food for zooplankton is
Balantidium sp., Didinium sp2., Diploplastron affine and phytoplankton because of its occurrence in all seasons such
Epidinium ecaudatum were only observed during winter and as Chrysophyceae (the golden algae) in winter that low
were absent in other seasons. On the other hand, Askenasia water temperature is suitable for their growth and
faurei, Branchioecetes gammaria and Didinium sp1. were development (Predojevic et al., 2014) and Euglenophyta
recognized only during summer. Class: Oligohymenophorea algae in warmer months of the year that the high water
was represented by 5 species, namely Conchophthirus sp., temperature and irradiance are suitable for their growth and
Dogielealla minuta, Hoplitophrya sp., Thuricolopsis development (Predojevic et al., 2015). The more presence
kellicottiana and Thuricola folliculatae. Hoplitophrya sp. of phagotrophic flagellates and ciliates, the more lack
and Thriula folliculatae were only observed during winter, number of bacteria. The result of DO and phosphorus and
Conchophthirus sp. only during autumn, Dogielealla minuta potassium as nutrient in addition to NO22- and NO3- allow
only during spring and Thuricolopsis kellicottiana only the abundance of ciliates such as Tokophrya genera which
during summer. Class: Spirotrichea was represented by 5 are considered as bioindicator for eutrophic water (Lynn,
species, namely Halteria sp., Hypotrichidium concium, 2010) and also Strombidium (Ajeagah Gideon et al., 2014).
Strombidium calkinsi, Tintinnidium sp. and Uroleptus In shallow and small habitats, macrophyte structures
limentis. Seasonal occurrence of these species in table (1) enhance diversity of life forms (Vakkillainen, 2005),
reveals that Halteria sp. was restricted to spring. Other including phytoplankton that are distributed by current both
species of the class: Spirotrichea were only encountered in horizontal and in vertical directions (Zarei Darki, 2014).
during autumn.
The analysis by Debastiani et al. (2016) showed that
Data recorded in table (2) indicate that estimated Coleps hirtus, Cinetochilum margaritacium and Tintinidium
physicochemical parameters, namely nitrite, nitrate, sp. could be used as a potential bioindicator in deteriorated
phosphorous, potassium, dissolved oxygen, biological aquatic environments. These organisms exhibit short life
oxygen demand, temperature and hydrogen ion cycles and pronounced sensitivity to environmental changes,
concentration were within the normal range. Relatively high particularly pollutants. According to (Andrushchyshyn et
BOD5 values likely reflect the activity of microorganisms al., 2007), community composition was most diverse
blended in water. NO22- ranged from 0.19 to 0.88 mg/L, with between 20 and 60 cm, and rarely found deeper than 60 cm
mean 0.54 mg/L ± 0.23. NO3- varied from 11.66 to 28.40 of the water column. These authers reported that the ciliates
mg/L, with mean 20.00 mg/L ± 5.48. P ranged from 0.05 to such as Amphileptus most likely fed on protozoans (mainly
0.18mg/L, with mean 0.10 mg/L ± 0.03. K ranged from 9.60 small ciliates) and on small metazoans, omnivorous ciliates
to 16.00mg/L, with mean 12.93 mg/L ± 1.86. Dissolved such as Coleps, Diatom-feeding ciliates such as
oxygen recorded values between 2.50 and 5.90mg/L, with Strombidium

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Volume 4, Issue 4, April – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165

Table (1): Seasonal occurrence of ciliates in shallow groundwater extracted from a domestic well at Sandoub, Mansoura, Egypt.

Table (2): Monthly fluctuation of the physicochemical parameters of the groundwater sampled from a domestic well in Sandoub,
Mansoura, Egypt.

NO22- = nitrite, NO3-= nitrate, P= phosphate, K= potassium, DO= dissolved oxygen, BOD 5= biological oxygen demand after 5
days, Temp.= temperature, pH= hydrogen ion concentration.

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Volume 4, Issue 4, April – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165

Plate1A: Light microscope photomicrograph showing ciliates from groundwater in Mansoura.


1) Bresslaua sp. 2) Tillina magna. 3) Stentor amethystinus. 4) Amphileptus sp. 5) Askenasia faurei 6) Balantidium sp.

Plate1B: Light microscope photomicrograph showing ciliates from groundwater in Mansoura.


7) Branchioecetes gammaria. 8) Didinium sp1. 9) Didinium sp2. 10) Diploplastron affine. 11) Epidinium ecaudatum. 12)
Eremoplastron bovis

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Volume 4, Issue 4, April – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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Pplate1C: Light microscope photomicrograph showing ciliates from groundwater in Mansoura.


13) Conchophthirus sp. 14) Dogielella minuta. 15) Hoplitophrya sp. 16) Thuricola folliculate. 17) Thuricolopsis kellicottiana.
18) Chilodochona quennerstedti.

Plate1D: Light microscope photomicrograph showing ciliates from groundwater in Mansoura.


19) Chlamydodon mnemosyne. 20) Parapodophrya typha. 21) Pseudogemma sp. 22) Scyphidia sp. 23) Tokophrya cyclopum. 24)
Pelatractus grandis.

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Volume 4, Issue 4, April – 2019 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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Plate1E: Light microscope photomicrograph showing ciliates from groundwater in Mansoura.


25) Coleps hirtus. 26) Halteria sp. 27) Hypotrichidium concium. 28) Strombidium calkinsi. 29) Tintinnidium sp. 30) Uroleptus.

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