Abstract
Cockroaches have been identified as mechanical carriers of pathogens capable of infesting humans. The primary objective of this research was to detect and separate medically significant parasites found within the collected cockroaches. A total of 185 cockroaches were captured. In the laboratory, cockroaches underwent a series of steps. Initially, they were washed in a saturated salt solution and rinsed with 70% alcohol, dried, and subsequently dissected to examine endoparasites. In this study, a transport rate of 29.729% was documented, and four types of helminths were identified, which included Ascaris lumbricoides (47.27%), Enterobius vermicularis (30.91%), Trichuris spp. (7.27%), and Hymenolepis nana (14.55%). The parasites were more frequently found on the external surface of cockroaches (38/69.09%), compared to the internal surface (17/30.91%). Cockroaches captured in toilets were found to carry a higher percentage of parasites (31/16.75%) compared to those from kitchens (11/5.94%) and houses (13/7.02%). These findings suggest that cockroaches can serve as carriers for intestinal parasites and potentially act as mechanical agents in the dissemination of these parasites.
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The authors would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all individuals who provided their understanding and support for the successful execution of this research.
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The study’s conception and design were carried out by AMA and ASM. Fieldwork contributions came from AAM and AMA. AMA with ASM, analyzed the data. The initial draft of the paper was written by AMA, ASM and AAM, with all authors participating in discussions about the results and contributing to the final version of the manuscript.
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The research was carried out in accordance with ethical principles rooted in the Declaration of Helsinki and was subject to review and approval by the Scientific/Ethics Committee of the College of Pharmacy, University of Duhok (Reference no. 642, July. 04, 2023).
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Abdullah, A.M., Merza, A.S. & Meerkhan, A.A. Cockroaches as carriers of human medically important parasites. Parasitol Res 123, 119 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08146-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08146-9