Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate protozoan cysts and oocyts in the faecal pellets of the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), with emphasis on the prevalence of Lophomonas blattarum.

Methods

Thirty adult Blattella germanica (12 males; 18 females) were trapped near Madrid, Spain. Expelled faecal pellets were collected in the laboratory over 5 days in two plastic containers. Protozoan cysts from one container were weighted and those in the other used for morphologically identification.

Results

Protozoan cysts/oocysts per gram of faecal pellet were: Nyctotherus sp. (0.0019/g), Entamoeba (0.0007/g), Balantidium coli (0.0001/g), Lophomonas blattarum (0.00038/g). Observation of 189 protozoan cysts/oocysts indicated the following prevalence: Nyctotherus sp. 65 (34.4%); Gregarina spp. 34 (18%); Entamoeba sp. 24 (12.7%); Cryptosporidium sp. 17 (9%); Coccidia 16 (8.4%); Lophomonas blattarum 13 (6.8%); Balantidium coli 4 (2.1%); and unclassified 16 (8.4%).

Conclusion

Lophomonas blattarum has previously been demonstrated in the gut of cockroaches, but this is the first assessment of the prevalence in Blattella germanica in faecal pellets. The presence of protozoa in faecal pellets provides some evidence for one step in a hypothesised route of respiratory infection whereby protozoa from household insects enter the respiratory tract.

中文翻译：

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德国蟑螂 (Blattella Germanica) 粪便颗粒中的原生动物囊肿，特别强调 Lophomonas blattarum。

目的

本研究的目的是调查德国蟑螂 ( Blattella Germanica) 粪便颗粒中的原生动物包囊和卵母细胞，重点是Lophomonas blattarum的流行。

方法

30 只成年德国小蠊（12 只雄性；18 只雌性）被困在西班牙马德里附近。排出的粪便颗粒在实验室中收集在两个塑料容器中超过 5 天。一个容器中的原生动物包囊被加权，另一个用于形态学鉴定。

结果

每克粪便颗粒的原生动物包囊/卵囊是：Nyctotherus sp。(0.0019/g)、内阿米巴(0.0007/g)、Balantidium coli (0.0001/g)、Lophomonas blattarum (0.00038/g)。对 189 个原生动物包囊/卵囊的观察表明以下流行：Nyctotherus sp。65 (34.4%); 格雷加里纳属 34 (18%); 内阿米巴菌 24 (12.7%); 隐孢子虫属。17 (9%); 球虫 16 (8.4%); 白口单胞菌13 (6.8%); Balantidium coli 4 (2.1%); 和未分类的 16 (8.4%)。

结论

Lophomonas blattarum先前已在蟑螂的肠道中得到证实，但这是对粪便颗粒中德国小蠊的流行率的首次评估。粪便颗粒中原生动物的存在为假设的呼吸道感染途径中的一个步骤提供了一些证据，即来自家庭昆虫的原生动物进入呼吸道。