Isolation and Identification of Some Microbial Pathogens Associated with the External Body Surface of Periplaneta americana in Umuahia, Abia State
Journal Title: International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health - Year 2016, Vol 13, Issue 3
Abstract
Aim: This study was carried out to isolate and identify the microbial pathogens of medical importance on the external body surfaces of Periplaneta americana collected from toilet areas, residential/hostel areas and health facilities in Umuahia metropolis, Abia State, south-eastern Nigeria. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Umuahia metropolis, Abia State, south-eastern Nigeria between October-December, 2014. Methodology: A total of 100 cockroaches from toilets (30), residential/hostel areas (46) and health facilities (24) in Umuahia were collected and their external body parts screened for bacterial, fungal and parasitological carriage. Sterile physiological saline used as washing fluid of the external surface of each cockroach was cultured by the streak plate method. The isolated bacteria were identified using standard bacteriological methods. Antibiotics susceptibility tests were done by the disc diffusion method. Results: Results showed that all the cockroaches were positive for different species of medically important bacteria and fungi. Escherichia coli were the most common bacteria in the cockroaches’ from toilet (21.14%) and residential/hostel areas (22.37%) while, Staphylococcus aureus (21.74%) was the most frequent isolate obtained from cockroaches obtained from health facilities. Aspergillus species (33.16%) was the most prevalent fungal group. Quantitative analysis of the total viable count and microbial loads of the bacterial and fungal isolates from the three sites revealed that the isolates obtained from toilet areas were high as compared to those from residential areas. Antibiotic susceptibility of all the bacteria isolates revealed a common pattern of multiple drug resistance amongst isolates from health facilities when compared to those from toilet and residential areas. Conclusion: The result indicated that Periplaneta americana is a possible reservoir of several pathogens via their bodies and thus may spread multiple drug resistant species.
Authors and Affiliations
E. O. Nwankwo, K. N. Onusiriuka, B. J. Elesho, O. G. Pipi
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP328998
- DOI 10.9734/IJTDH/2016/22891
- Views 63
- Downloads 0
Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis among Secondary School Children in Oloibiri Community
Background: Dental fluorosis with its attendant complication of aesthetic distortion of the teeth has now become another focus of public health intervention worldwide. We studied the prevalence of dental fluorosis among...
Prevalence of Mutant Plasmodium falciparum Chloroquine Resistance Transport Gene (PFCRT) in Human Immune Deficiency Virus Patients Attending University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo-Nigeria
In this study, the prevalence of mutant Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistant transport gene in HIV positive patients attending University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo was evaluated. The risk factors associated wi...
Effects of Emergency Injury Care (EIC) Training for the Community Volunteers in the Rural Community of Bangladesh
Background: Injury is the leading causes of morbidity and mortality including disability worldwide. Emergency Injury Care (EIC) is provided to stabilize casualties with life-threatening injury in an emergency situation b...
Urinary Schistosomiasis and Its Related Anaemia among Children in a High Risk Community in Ghana
Background: Urinary schistosomiasis is a disease of great public health importance and remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality among children globally. The disease, which is often characterized by painful u...
Transporting Snake Bite Victims to Appropriate Health Facility within Golden Hour through Toll Free Emergency Ambulance Service in India, Save Lives
Background: Snakebite is a neglected public health issue in India. The big four venomous snakes are Cobra, Krait, Russell’s viper and Saw scaled Viper. Estimates of annual snakebite mortality in India are upto 50,000 dea...