Deteriorating rural ponds : A threat to overseas migratory wetland birds in Kurukshetra suburbs, Haryana, India

The present study addresses the problem of ongoing destruction of traditional age old rural wetlands in Haryana in the last 10 years. It is a grave issue which stands accelerated due to anthropogenic unawareness and in deliberate destruction. In all, 59 species of wetland birds belonging to 10 orders and 17 families were recorded from Palwal rural pond in Kurukshetra district in India during 2005-2012. The presence and that too in higher numbers of Purple Moorhen Porphyrio porphyrio and Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus hints towards the over excessive growth of hyacinth and water reeds thus making it an ideal place for these birds which are the harbingers of total eutrophication of a certain water body. The other birds seen in the pond are White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus, Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus, Large Egret Ardea alba and Median Egret Mesophoyx intermedia. Pond Herons Ardeola grayii were in few numbers. Black winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus were in more number thus indicating the presence of sludge in water and its shallowness. Cattle egrets were in large number indicating its negative character. The lackluster attitude of Govt. of Haryana will result in its total destruction in 5-10 years. Similar situation may be extended to nearby village ponds to worsen their condition too. Ramsar Convention (1971) pleads for preservation, protection and conservation of wetlands of all hues. Village ponds in Haryana should be revived by seeking co-operation from the Head Quarter of Ramsar Convention at Switzerland.

Physico-Chemical and Biological Parameters of the Three Rural Ponds of Sasaram of Bihar

Physico chemical and biological parameters of the three rural pond of Sasaram,Bihar has been studied to see the present condition for its better utilization. The study revealed that parameters are within permissible limit for fish culture and the stocking should be done as per the productivity of the water. As per the BOD estimation the ponds falls under moderately polluted category.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i2.10371Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(2): 206-210

A case of bilateral microsporidial keratitis from Bangladesh – infection by an insect parasite from the genus Nosema

An HIV-negative patient from Bangladesh with bilateral keratitis was found to be infected with a microsporidian parasite belonging to the genus Nosema. Significantly, the patient had bathed in a rural pond 7 days prior to the development of ocular symptoms. Nosema parasites are common insect parasites and the source of this microsporidial infection was possibly from mosquito larvae developing in the pond in which the patient bathed. The reduced temperature of the human eye and its immune status may have allowed a poikilothermic insect parasite to establish infection in the cornea of a homeothermic human host. This case highlights the opportunistic potential of insect microsporidial parasites to infect immunocompetent humans as well as those who are immunodeficient.