[The role of insects (Blattodea, Diptera, and Hymenoptera) as possible mechanical vectors of helminths in the domiciliary and peridomiciliary environment].
Helminths can be transmitted to human beings in several ways, but little attention has been given to vector or mechanical transmission of infective forms by insects. The present study surveys the helminth species present in three orders of insects that coexist in proximity with the human environment. A total of 700 insects (54 Blattodea, 275 Diptera, and 371 Hymenoptera) were collected and examined externally and individually. In the Blattodea order, only specimens of Periplaneta americana were collected, and 58.3% were carrying the following helminth forms: Oxyuridae eggs (36.4%), Ascaridae eggs (28.04%), Nematoda larvae (4.8%), Cestoda eggs (3.5%), other Nematoda (0.08%), and Toxocaridae eggs (0.08%). No Diptera and Hymenoptera were found to contain parasitic forms. This study evaluates the importance and role of insects as mechanical vectors of helminth parasites, correlated with social and environmental conditions, and suggests the use of these data for preventive purposes.
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil. thyssenpj@yahoo.com.br
Patricia Jacqueline
PJ
Thyssen
Thiago de Carvalho
Tde C
Moretti
Marlene Tiduko
MT
Ueta
Odair Benedito
OB
Ribeiro
D000818:Animals; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000469:parasitology; D004175:Diptera / Q000469:parasitology; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000635:transmission*; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000469:parasitology; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*