Periplanata americana and Blatella orientalis (L) (Dictyoptera, Blattidae) as Vectors of Bacterial Pathogens in Maiduguri, Nigeria.
1Biu, A.A., 2Gulani, I.A., 1Mohammed, A., 1Konto, M., 1Fadimatu, M. and 3Hafsat, S.A.
1Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Parasitology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
2Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
3Department of Veterinary Public Health & Preventive Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
E-mail: biuvet@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Cockroaches are found to be associated with human dwellings worldwide thereby; affecting public health through their habits which makes them ideal mechanical carriers of several pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, helminths, protozoa and fungi. This study was conducted to isolate and identify bacteria from external surfaces and digestive tract of 50 Cockroaches collected around human dwellings in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Colonial morphology and biochemical characterization revealed that cockroaches harboured Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Corynebacterium pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Streptococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aerugenosa, on their cuticle and intestinal contents. Antimicrobial sensitivity tests were indicated by diameter of inhibition zone in millimetres. Complete resistance was observed with floxapen, ampicillin and erythromycin for Gram positive isolates, and ampicillin and ampicillin/cloxacilin for Gram negative isolates. However, pockets of resistance were observed for cephalexin, cotrimoxazole, amoxicilin, clindamycin and ofloxacin for Gram positive bacteria, and tetracycline, norfloxacin, amoxicillin, ofloxacin, chloramphenicol, cefuroxime and gentamicin for Gram negative bacteria. In conclusion, cockroaches in Maiduguri harbour pathogenic bacteria which showed resistance to antimicrobial agents.