CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Cockroaches are one of the oldest insect orders with a fossil history extending back more than 300 million years. There are 3500-4000 known species worldwide of which only a few are troublesome to people (Robertson, 2004).
The importance of cockroaches as a pest is traditionally linked to their medical importance; they are known to be capable of carrying many common pathogenic organisms such as fungi, viruses, protozoa, and about 40 species of bacteria that are pathogenic to vertebrates (Glazer et al., 2005).
Cockroaches are among the most notorious pests of premises, which not only contaminate food by leaving droppings and bacteria that can cause food poisoning but also they transmit bacteria, fungi and other pathogenic microorganisms in infested areas (Kopanic1994; Czajka et al., 2003).
Cockroaches feed indiscriminately on garbage and sewage and so have copious opportunity to disseminate human pathogens (Cotton, 2000; Pai, 2005). Also their nocturnal and filthy habits make them ideal carriers of various pathogenic microorganisms (Salehzadeha et al., 2007).
The filthy breeding habits, feeding mechanisms and indiscriminate travel between filth and food make some groups of synanthropic insects such as nonbiting flies and cockroaches’ efficient vectors of human enteric protozoan parasites. Twenty-one species of filth flies have been listed by regulatory agencies concerned with sanitation and public health as causative agents of gastrointestinal diseases based on synanthropy, endophily, communicative behaviour and strong attraction to filth and human food. Outbreaks and cases of foodborne diarrhoeal diseases in urban and rural areas are closely related to the seasonal increase in abundance of filth flies, and enforced fly control is closely related to reductions in the occurrence of such diseases (Thaddeus et al., 2005).
1.2 Statement of Research Problem
There is an increase in cockroach population in areas with poor sanitary conditions all over the world particularly in Nigeria, the risk to human health arising from cockroach infestations have been reported as cockroaches are known mechanical vectors of human pathogens as there are reports of the isolation of various pathogenic human helminth and protozoan parasites from them (Salehzadeha et al., 2007). The behaviour, feeding habits, body structure, and mobility of cockroaches make them well adapted for the mechanical transmission of oocysts, cysts and larvae of parasites that cause diseases whose epidemiology are still poorly understood in developing countries. This may be due to the presence of the parasites in stool, lack of documentation, under or over reporting of episodes due to inaccurate diagnosis, different levels of hygiene and sanitation as well as different socio-economic status of the people.
1.3 Justification
Some of the rare protozoan infections such as the microsporidia are only now being understood as they are appearing as concomitant infections in homes with cockroach infestation and are affecting people with depressed immune responsiveness, e.g. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Michael et al., 2011). The result obtained will provide baseline information on the parasites that are transmitted mechanically by cockroaches.
1.4 Aim and Objectives
1.4.1 Aim of the Study
To identify and isolate medically important parasites from the internal parts of cockroaches found in Makurdi metropolis.
1.4.2 Objective of the Study
Specifically, the objectives of this study are:
- To identify the various species of cockroach in Makurdi metropolis
- To isolate and identify some common parasites associated with cockroaches in Makurdi metropolis
