Abstract
The role of cockroaches in the mechanical transmission of human parasites in Ismailia Governorate was studied. A total 1135 cockroaches, belonging to two families and four species, were collected from seven different sites using sticky traps. The cockroaches were examined for the presence of parasites. The total number of parasites was six, The Helminths were: Ascaris sp., Trichuris sp., Hymenolepis sp., Entrobius sp, and Taenia sp. The protozoa was: Entamoeba histolitica. The total prevalence of parasites in body surface was 12.1%, in the gut was 13.2% and in whole insect was 13.5%. The highest prevalence was recorded at the summer in whole insect with 18.8% while the lowest prevalence was at the spring on the body surface with 3.5%. On the other hand, parasites were not recorded in winter. The highest prevalence was recorded with Periplaneta americana occurring in the whole insect with 15.6% while the lowest prevalence was recorded with Blattella germanica occurring on the body surface with 12.6%. On the other hand, parasites were not recorded with Blatta orientalis and Supella longipalpa. The prevalence of parasites recorded in cockroach’s sexes and stages. The highest prevalence was recorded with females occurring in the whole insect with 20%, followed with males occurring in the whole insect too with 10.3% and the lowest prevalence was recorded in nymphs with 3.2% in the gut. The present study further confirms that cockroaches play an important role as mechanical vectors of protozoan and helminth parasites. Hence, it is recommended that appropriate control measures must be taken particularly to make human dwellings as well as food preparation areas, including hospitals, hostels, schools and farms free of cockroaches.
Highlights
Cockroaches have been on earth for about 300 million years, and are the world's most common insects
As shown in Table (1) which represents the prevalence of Helminths recorded in cockroaches in different sites and localities, the highest prevalence was at Suez Canal University “SCU’ hospital entomological needles and forceps were dipped in ethanol between dissections (Getachew et al, 2007)
Some of the diseases caused by these pathogenic helminths and protozoans are amoebiasis, giardiasis, ascariasis which may be responsible for chronic diarrhea, liver failure, intestinal disturbances and stunted growth in the affected individuals (Mbanugo & Abazie, 2002; Montressor et al, 2002; Graczyket.al., 2005; Salehzadeh et al, 2007; Sam-Wobo, 2008 and Adeleke et al, 2012)
Summary
Cockroaches have been on earth for about 300 million years, and are the world's most common insects. There are about 4,500 species of cockroaches that can be found in every part of the world. Thirty species are associated with human habitations, but only a few of these species inhabit human dwellings. The most common of these are the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) (Robinson, 2005; Uneke, 2007). Cockroaches are termed as medically important pests because of their wide distribution in human habitation including houses, hospitals, food industries and kitchens. They may harbour multiple drug-resistant pathogenic helminths and protozoan parasites on
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