Journal Article

Intestinal Parasites Associated with American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Obi, Regina-Tyra Ekwi, Akeju, Adebayo Victor, Olusi, Titus Adeniyi

2024

Overview

American cockroach ( Periplaneta americana ) has been implicated as mechanical vector of parasites of humans and animals. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and determine the prevalence of human intestinal parasites associated with the body surface and gut of P. americana . A total of 221 cockroaches which include 104 males and 117 females were collected from household kitchen, toilet area and canteen after which they were brought to laboratory for study. The body surface of the cockroach was washed with 5 ml normal saline solution to remove external parasites on the body surface for examination and later rinsed with 70% alcohol and dried before dissecting. The cockroach was dissected to examine internal parasites. Eleven parasites were recovered and identified, these include Ascaris   lumbricoides (51.58%),  Strongyloides stercoralis (48.42%) Trichuris   trichiura (52.49%),  Enterobius   vermicularis ( 37 .10%), Taenia spp (14.93%),  Toxocara  (31.67%), Ancylostoma spp (34.84%), Necator americanus (53.39%), and  Diphylidium spp  (66.23%) Balantidium coli (66.52%). The parasites were recorded both on the body surface and gut of the cockroach. There is no significant difference ( p  > 0.05) between parasites infection rate comparing both sexes; though, female cockroach having a higher infection rate (91.45%) than male (81.5%). Cockroach collected from toilets carried more parasites (96.34%) as compared to those from restaurants/canteen (89.71%) and household kitchens (81.69%). All parasites encountered were pathogenic to human and animals. This study has revealed that P. americana can act as mechanical vector by transporting and transmitting these parasites easily to man and animal. Good sanitary practices, reinforcement of worms' eradication programs, and the fight against these insects remain a necessity to contain the menace of parasites burden and cockroach control.

• Publisher: Springer India,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: alcohols / Ancylostoma / Animals / Ascaris lumbricoides / Balantioides coli / Chi-square test / Cockroaches / Digestive system / Enterobius vermicularis / Females / Gastrointestinal tract / Health Promotion and Disease Prevention / Households / humans / Infections / Infectious Diseases / Insects / Intestinal parasites / Intestine / intestines / Iodine / Kitchens / males / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Morphology / Necator americanus / Nigeria / Original / Original Article / Parasites / Parasitic diseases / Pathogens / Periplaneta americana / Physiology / Restaurants / Saline solutions / sodium chloride / Strongyloides stercoralis / Taenia / Toilet facilities / Toilets / Toxocara / Trichuris trichiura