title: Reservoir competence of the lesser mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) for Salmonella typhimurium (Eubacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae).
abstract: The reservoir competence of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) is reported for Salmonella typhimurium (Loeffler) relative to broiler chicken production. Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from feces of the adult lesser mealworm at least 28 d after feeding for 24 h on 1 g of chicken feed inoculated with 3 x 10(8) bacteria/ml. All larvae fed S. typhimurium ceased voiding the bacteria in their feces before pupal molt, except one. One beetle continued to void S. typhimurium after it emerged as an adult, providing evidence that transstadial transmission of S. typhimurium may occur. The bacteria were found both on the external body surface and inside the body of surface-sterilized adults and larvae during 16 d of exposure. Salmonella-positive cloacal swabs were obtained from 1-day-old broiler chicks within 24 h after eating one infected lesser mealworm adult or larva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Steelman
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Skeeles
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001179:Arthropod Vectors / Q000382:microbiology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005516:Food Microbiology; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000382:microbiology*