title: [Ants as mechanical vectors of microorganisms in the School Hospital of the Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro].
abstract: The pathogens associated with ants at the teaching hospital of the Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro, in Uberaba, MG, were studied. Three species of ants were identified: Tapinoma melanocephalum, Pheidole sp and Paratrechina longicornis. The principal microorganisms found were Staphylococcus sp, Gram-positive bacilli, Pseudomonas sp and Micrococcus sp. The results from the collections were analyzed according to the number of colonies and the different microorganisms isolated, using Student's t test. The statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference only with regard to Staphylococcus sp. (p=0.005). It is possible that ants and pathogenic agents have mutualistic associations, and that analysis of such relationships may lead to new pest control strategies, with an emphasis not only on the insects but also especially on which agent is associated with these insect species.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Central, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sílvia Baldan
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: Afonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelli
authors.forename: Glenda Pereira
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Adriana Gonçalves
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Maxelle Martins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Ana Paula Sarreta
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Terra
authors.forename: Elisabete Montovani
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: da Cunha Hueb Barata de Oliveira
authors.forename: César Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Morais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000382:microbiology*; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*