title: Bacterial pathogens isolated from cockroaches trapped from paediatric wards in peninsular Malaysia.
abstract: A survey was conducted in 4 paediatric wards in Malaysia to determine the distribution of various species of cockroaches and to examine their gut contents for bacteria. Cockroaches were trapped from food dispensing areas (kitchens), store rooms, cupboards and open wards. 104 cockroaches were caught, consisting of Periplaneta americana (67.3%), Blattella germanica (26%), P. brunnea (4.8%), and Supella longipalpa (1.9%). Bacteria were isolated from all cockroaches except 3 P. americana. Many bacterial species were identified, including the pathogenic and potentially pathogenic species Shigella boydii, S. dysenteriae, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebseilla oxytoca, K. ozaena and Serratia marcescens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oothuman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abu Bakar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jegathesan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000382:microbiology*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia