title: Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana and Blattella germanica) as potential mechanical disseminators of Entamoeba histolytica.
abstract: Since cockroaches feed on feces, they may disseminate infective agents with the fecal-oral route. A field survey and experiments were conducted to determine the role of cockroaches in the dissemination of Entamoeba histolytica. Periplaneta americana (n=299) and Blattella germanica (n=29) were collected from 11 primary schools in an urban area of South Taiwan. E. histolytica/E. dispar cysts were found on the cuticle and/or in the digestive tract of P. americana (25.4%) whereas cysts were only isolated from the digestive tract of B. germanica (10.3%). E. histolytica cysts were found on the cuticle and/or in the digestive tract of both species after exposure to 1000 or 100 cysts/g feces for 24 h. These findings indicate that cockroaches may harbor the E. histolytica cysts and play a role as potential mechanical disseminators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan, ROC. hhpai@cc.kmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Hsiu-Hua
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020048:Blattellidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000254:growth & development*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000635:transmission*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D010526:Periplaneta / Q000469:parasitology*; D012574:Schools; D013624:Taiwan; D014505:Urban Population