Determination of Parasitic Agents Associated with Cockroaches in Dutsin-Ma Town, Northwestern Nigeria

Background: Cockroaches are known to be mechanical vectors of disease-causing agents such as parasites, bacteria, fungi and viruses. This study determined parasitic agents associated with cockroaches in Dutsin-Ma Town, Northwest Nigeria. A total of 600 cockroaches were collected from toilets, dumpsites, suck-away and sewages of Female and Male Hostels of Federal University Dutsin-Ma, residential houses in Darawa, Hayin-Gada and Kadangaru in Dutsin-Ma Town.

Aims: To provide the public with this knowledge, this study was put forward to determine parasitic agents associated with cockroaches in Dutsin-Ma Town, Northwestern Nigeria.

Study Design: The study was carried out in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, Nigeria. Cockroaches collected from the toilets had the highest parasite load, followed by those from the suck-away, and those from the dump site and then cockroaches from the sewages.

Results and Discussion: A total of 600 cockroaches (identified as Periplanata americana species) were examined, 95.33% were infected with several species of gastrointestinal parasites. Parasites isolated and identified include Strongyloides stercolaris (25.26%), fluke (17.89%), Nyctotherus ovalis (2.98%), Enterobius vermicularis (13.68%), Entamoeba histolytica (12.28%), Toxascaris leonina (24.46%). More parasites were recovered from the gastro-intestinal than on the external parts with prevalence rates of 97.33% and 92.67%, respectively.

Conclusion: This study has shown that Periplanata americana represent an important reservoir of parasites which can cause disease in man. Hence public awareness is required to educate people on the potential of Periplanata americana in transmitting intestinal parasites thus, there is a need to control cockroaches indoors and outside.