We have recently shown that a large proproportion of earthworm coelomocytes exhibit strong autofluorescence in some species (Dendrobaena veneta, Allolobophora chlorotica, Dendrodrilus rubidus, Eisenia fetida, and Octolasion spp.), while autofluorescent coelomocytes are very scarce in representatives of Lumbricus spp. and Aporrectodea spp. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) was identified as a major fluoro...

Nine toxicity tests were conducted using a procedure based on the OECD (1984) artificial soil earthworm toxicity test. For each test, Eisenia jet ida were exposed to zinc in a range of artificial soils with differing pH and/or organic matter (0 M) content. Earthworm survival and cocoon production, and the concentrations of zinc in two fractions (nitric acid extractable, water extractable) and t...

While many blood substitutes are based on mammalian hemoglobins (e.g., human hemoglobin, HbA), the naturally extracellular hemoglobins of invertebrates (a.k.a. erythrocruorins, Ecs) are intriguing alternative oxygen carriers. Specifically, the erythrocruorin of Lumbricus terrestris has been shown to effectively deliver oxygen in mice and rats without the negative side effects observed with HbA....

Metal contamination from coal ashes (CAs) is widely recognized as a significant environmental concern. To learn more about metal detoxification and accumulation potential of earthworm species, metal-rich tea factory coal ashes (TFCA) were fed to Eisenia fetida and Lampito mauritii by employing a fluorescent tag detection method. Fascinatingly, on feeding fluorescence probed Zn and Cd along with...

Isolation and molecular characterization of bacteria from the gut Eisenia fetida for biodegradation 4,4 DDTReagan Mudziwapasi, Sibonani S. Mlambo, Nomathemba L. Chigu, Pardon K. Kuipa, Walter T. Sanyika

Isolation and molecular characterization of bacteria from the gut Eisenia fetida for biodegradation 4,4 DDTReagan Mudziwapasi, Sibonani S. Mlambo, Nomathemba L. Chigu, Pardon K. Kuipa, Walter T. Sanyika

The process of vermicomposting with Eisenia fetida has been regarded as a viable solution to the frequent disposal and waste of used coffee grounds. The effects of coffee grounds on earthworms have yet to be fully understood. In a manipulative experiment with varying ratios of coffee grounds and earthworms, we investigate how the amount of coffee grounds affect total earthworm biomass and also ...

The ecotoxicological effects of transgenic maize-expressed vaccine protein, Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin subunit B (LTB), on two soil invertebrates were studied under laboratory settings. After being reared for 28 days on LTB-maize-treated soils, no apparent mortality of the springtail, Folsomia candida , or the earthworm, Eisenia fetida , was observed at levels well above conservat...