Bacterial and parasitic contamination of cockroaches in hospital and non-hospital places in Alborz province, Northern Iran

The present study was conducted to determine the presence of human pathogenic bacteria and parasites from the external and internal surfaces of cockroaches in some selected hospital and non hospital locations in Karaj municipality. A total of 69 cockroaches were sampled using sticky traps and hand catch methods between 2019 and 2020 in the Alborz Province of Northern Iran. The genera and species were identified using identification keys then washed in a sterile glass containing 2 mls of sterile saline and the resulting suspension was cultured. Bacteria and parasites were isolated and identified from both the external and internal surfaces of the cockroaches using standard techniques. Periplaneta americana was found to be the predominant species 58 (84.1%), followed by Blattela germanica 8 (11.6%) and Blattela orientalis 3 (4.3%). Thirty-five cockroaches (50.7%) were infected with pathogenic bacteria, while no parasitic contamination was found in the total collection. The bacteria species found include Escherichia coli (13.04%), Staphylococcus aureus (11.59%), Proteus spp. (5.79%), Klebsiella spp. (2.89%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (7.24%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (4.34%), Streptococcus spp. (4.34%), Clostridium spp. (2.89%), Salmonella spp. (4.34%), Pseudomonas spp. (5.79%), Shigella spp. (1.44%) and bacillus gr+ (2.89%). The cockroaches sampled in the Karaj were found to be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and need application of appropriate control methods to combat pathogenic bacteria infections and create a safe environment.