Evaluation of the common cockroach Periplaneta americana (L.) as carrier of medically important bacteria

Abstract

The bacterial flora associated with external body parts, stomach and intestine of male and female Periplaneta americana inhabitating students' halls, teachers' residences and houses of low-paid employees in Jahangirnagar, University Campus were examined and analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. The qualitative study in P. americana revealed the presence of 31 species of bacteria belonging to 16 genera. Most of these bacteria are pathogenic to man and domestic animals. The total viable bacterial counts (TVBC/g) in students' halls, teachers' residences and houses of low-paid employees were 1.27 x 10(8), 6.04 x 10(7) and 1.65 x 10(8) respectively in the male and 1.43 x 10(8), 5.83 x 10(7) and 1.63 x 10(8) respectively in the female cockroaches. The highest prevalence of bacterial flora both in number and types occurred in stomach followed by intestine and the external body parts.