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Identification and Semi-quantification of Protozoa from the Digestive System Microbiota of the Lobster Cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea Oliver, 1789 (Insecta:Blattaria)

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Abstract

Introduction

The lobster cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea (N. cinerea) is indicated as a promising non-mammalian model, because it presents behavioral and biochemical alterations also observed in conventional models. In this research, we identified and characterized the distribution of protozoa that inhabit the digestive system (DS) of N. cinerea cockroaches.

Methods

The adult specimens of N. cinerea used in this study (n = 32) were obtained at the Federal University of Santa Maria, dissected and had their visceral contents observed in bright-field microscopy without staining and after application of lugol, Ziehl–Neelsen staining, EA36 trichrome and simulated dark-field microscopy with application of nankin ink. The presence of protozoa in different portions of the DS was semi-quantified by a system of crosses (+).

Results

The main taxa observed were: amoebas (Archaemebae:Entamoebida), gregarins (Apicomplexa:Eugregarinide), coccidia (Apicomplexa:Eucoccidiorida), kinetoplastids (Kinetoplastea:Kinetoplastida) and oxymonads (Preaxostyla:Oxymonadida). The highest prevalence of amoebas and gregarines was observed in the medial portion of the DS, while for the other groups, this was seen in the final portion, and in the case of coccidia, such prevalence was specially evidenced by the alcohol-acid coloration. In the present work, the great biological diversity that exists in the microbiota of the digestive system of Nauphoeta cinerea was demonstrated, being possible to find several pathogenic species for humans such as Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii, Cryptosporidium sp. and Cyclospora cayetanensis. There is still a lot to know about the interactions between endocommensal protozoa and their respective invertebrate hosts, so the best way to clarify such relationships is through molecular and genetic test.

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Funding

This research was funded by the National Research and Development Council (CNPq) through the granting of the scientific initiation grant process no. [133380/2021–1] established by the institutional grant program—02/2020 PIBIC/CNPq/URCA, of the Regional University of Cariri—URCA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biology and Toxicology (BIOTOX), Department of Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Regional University of Cariri-URCA, CNPJ-06.740.864/0001-26, CEL. Antônio Luiz Street, 1161-Pimenta, Crato, CE, CEP: 63105-000, Brazil

    Carlos Vinicius Barros Oliveira, Daniel Honorato Neves, Elayne Eally de Souza Morais & Antonia Eliene Duarte

  2. Laboratory of Plant Ecophysiology (LECOV), Department of Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Regional University of Cariri-URCA, CNPJ-06.740.864/0001-26, CEL. Antônio Luiz Street, 1161-Pimenta, Crato, CE, CEP: 63105-000, Brazil

    Thalyta Julyanne Silva de Oliveira & Luiz Marivando Barros

  3. Semi-Arid Bioprospecting Laboratory and Alternative Methods (LABSEMA), Department of Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Regional University of Cariri-URCA, CNPJ-06.740.864/0001-26, CEL. Antônio Luiz Street, 1161-Pimenta, Crato, CE, CEP: 63105-000, Brazil

    Mayara Maria da Silva

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  1. Carlos Vinicius Barros Oliveira
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Oliveira, C.V.B., Neves, D.H., de Souza Morais, E.E. et al. Identification and Semi-quantification of Protozoa from the Digestive System Microbiota of the Lobster Cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea Oliver, 1789 (Insecta:Blattaria). Acta Parasit. 67, 1186–1198 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-022-00570-0

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