Evaluation of German Cockroach, Blattella germanica from Different Niches for Bacterial Contamination

Abstract

Cohabitating nature of cockroach with humans is on the increase in most rural and underdeveloped areas of Cross River State including Calabar South. It is therefore important to screen the bacterial carriage of this pest because of shared ecological niche. Sticky trap method was used to capture the pest and properly identify by an Entomologist Dr Ogban, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar. They were killed using chloroform. Pour plating culturing technique was used for bacterial isolation, isolates were characterized and identified using standard bacteriological methods. The research result reveals eleven (11) bacterial species (Bacillus, Klebsiella, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, Proteus, S. epidermidis, Streptococcus, Salmonella, Shigella and Enterococcus). E. coli Klebsiella and Bacillus were the most frequently isolated organisms from the external surface of latrines and living house cockroaches. Klebsiella, E. coli and Enterococcus species were predominant in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of cockroaches from same ecological niche except that in living houses, the presence of Enterococcus species were insignificance compare to other isolates. There was a significant difference at P = .05 in isolates from cockroaches captured from latrines area to those from living houses. The degree of contamination based on sum total of each isolate from External and GIT parts of cockroaches from both experimental niche was; E. coli > Klebsiella > S. aureus > Bacillus > Shigella > P. aeruginosa = Samonella = Enterococcus > Streptococcus > S. epidermidis > Proteus. This study encourages the use of some natural and home friendly cockroach eradication techniques that pose no harm to home dwellers and it environ. This include timely removal of bushes around the living environ, frequent sealing of cracks around the kitchens, and bathrooms to reduce potential hidings areas. Getting rids of all foods remains on kitchen tables, floor etc. Application of boil mint leaves at different corners of the house. These will naturally scare the presence of this pest from human habitation and serve as a better strategy to minimize cockroach-associated infections.