First report of Lophomonas spp. in German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) trapped in hospitals, northern Iran

Abstract

Cockroaches are considered to be important reservoirs for protozoan and helminth parasites,particularly an emerging Lophomonas spp., protozoan parasite. German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (B. germanica), are domestic pest distributed worldwide. However, little information is available regarding the burden of Lophomonas spp. infestation among domestic cockroach population worldwide. The present study investigated parasitic agents, emphasizing Lophomonas spp. infestation among B. germanica in northern Iran. During spring and summer 2018, a total of 496 adults B. germanica (265 males and 231 females) were trapped by hand and glass traps from the teaching hospitals in Mazandaran, Sari, northern Iran. All cockroaches were identified using taxonomic keys. Each cockroaches was anesthetized with chloroform and the alimentary tract removed. Each section was smeared onto a glass slide. All the smears were examined under light microscopy to determine the presence of the parasites. Ten genera of parasites were identified from the trapped B. germanica; overall, 233 (47%) were found to be positive for helminths (n = 135) and protozoa (n = 98). The helminths included Aspiculuris tetraptera egg (67/233, 28.7%), Oxiuros sp. (39/233; 16.7%), Dentostomella translucida (17/233; 7.3%), and nematodes Ova (12/233; 5.2%). The protozoan parasites identified Gregarina sp. (61/233; 26.2%), Entamoeba sp. (19/233; 8.2%), Blastocystis sp. (5/233; 2.1%), Lophomonas (4/233; 1.7%), Nyctotherus sp. (4/233; 1.7%), unclassified flagella (5/233; 2.1%). Lophomonas spp. was detected within the gut of B. germanica, for the first time, in Iran. It has previously been identified in the gut of cockroaches a long time ago, however, this is the first attempt to detect Lophomonas in cockroaches housing in hospitals. Thereby, it possibly presenting pose a serious respiratory infection risk for patients and health care personnel.

Keywords: Blattella germanica; Cockroaches; Hospital; Lophomonas sp.; Parasitic agents.

Fig. 1

Alimentary canal of a German cockroach (Blattella germanica)

Fig. 2

Some parasites observed in the wet smear prepared from the gut of German cockroaches. a Aspiculuris tetraptera Egg; b The adult stage of Aspiculuris tetraptera; c Lophomonas spp. trophozoites; d Gregarina sp.; e Dentostomella translucida. Images a, c, d, and e under 400×  magnification and image b under 40×  magnification