The Role of Cockroaches (Blatta Orientalis and Periplaneta Americana) in Mechanical Transmission of Parasites in Households in Owerri, South East Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out on the parasitic profile of cockroaches caught in various sections of many houses in Owerri. A total of 340 cockroaches trapped from different sites (toilet, kitchen, store room and living room) were examined using standard parasitological techniques which included washing and examination of the externals in saline, dissection and examination of the internal contents. The cockroaches caught were Periplaneta americana 200 (58.8%) and Blatta orientalis 140 (41.2%). Cysts and ova of medically important parasites were isolated from the cockroaches as follows; P. americana 147 (73.5%) and B. orientalis 81 (57.8%). The medically important parasites shared by the species include Ascaris lumbricoides (20.5%), Trichuris trichuria (6.76%), Moniliformis moniliformis (19.4%), Hookworm (8.52%), Entamoeba coli (5.58%), Entamoeba histolytica (12.1%), Balantidium coli (1.76%) and Enterobius vermicularis (1.47%). Significantly more parasites were recovered from the external surface than the internal surface. Cockroach trapped in the toilet had the highest parasite count of 65 parasites/ml followed by those from the kitchen, while 46 parasites/ml were observed from cockroaches trapped in the living room. The data from this study revealed the potentials of cockroaches as mechanical transmitter of cysts and ova of parasites.

Keywords: cockroaches, mechanical transmitter parasites, Owerri

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [2] September 2011, pp.153-156