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. 2023;78(4):1153-1160.
doi: 10.1007/s11756-023-01332-7. Epub 2023 Feb 1.

First molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus in cockroaches

Mohsen Kalantari  1 , Mozaffar Vahedi  2   3 , Kourosh Azizi  1 , Amin Hosseinpour  1 , Marzieh Jamalidoust  4 , Hassan Rezanezhad  5   6 , Hamzeh Alipour  1 , Mehdi Miri  2 , Negin Abolhasanbeigi  2 , Hadi Ashraf  7
Affiliations

First molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus in cockroaches

Mohsen Kalantari et al. Biologia (Bratisl). 2023.

Abstract

Coronavirus is one of the main pathogens that primarily targets the human respiratory system. There are several ways to transmit this virus, such as direct contact or droplets spread by coughing or sneezing, and direct contact with fomites and surfaces is another way. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shiraz, southern Iran, in 2021. 5 locations, including 3 hospitals and 2 dormitories, were selected for the survey. The cockroaches were collected from selected locations and transferred to the Laboratory of Medical Entomology at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All specimens were identified morphologically. The external and gastrointestinal washouts of collected samples with sterile phosphate-buffered saline separately were used for molecular analysis. An RT-qPCR assay, which suggests the possible insect‑borne transmission, was used. External and gastrointestinal washout of B. germanica from Dastgheyb Dormitory and P. americana from Ali-Asghar Hospital were positive for contamination with the SARS-CoV-2. Cockroaches spread the virus in the environment and contaminate human food and various surfaces of buildings. Their role will be more important in crowded places such as hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and hospitals; vector control programs should be carried out with more accuracy in such places.

Keywords: Cockroaches; Coronavirus; Insect; Iran; Real-time RT-qPCR; Vectors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sampling locations in Shiraz county (capital of Fars province, south of Iran), Ali-Asghar (1) and Shahid-Chamran (2) hospitals. Fatemeh Zahra Clinic (3). Shahid-Dastgheyb Dormitory (4) and Golestan Dormitory (5)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The Sampling of cockroaches using the hand-catch technique (A). Transferring alive to the laboratory (B). Washing out the external body with PBS (C). Washing gastrointestinal tube with PBS (D)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in field-collected cockroaches
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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