Cockroaches as Potential Vectors of Nosocomial Infections

Pai, Hsiu-Hua; Chen, Wei-Chen; Peng, Chien‐Fang

doi:10.1086/502330

Cited by 74 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Ingestion of bacteria by insects might have important consequences: several reports have described transmission of bacteria by houseflies 12 (Diptera), sometimes more than two weeks after feeding 13,14 , and cockroaches (Dictyoptera) might be vectors for nosocomial infections 15 . A remarkable case of oral infection occurs when fleas feed on rodents that are infected by Y. pestis; the fleas become plague vectors, as Y. pestis can colonize the flea gut 16 .…”

Section: Ingestion Of Microorganismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial strategies to overcome insect defences

2008

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| Recent genetic and molecular analyses have revealed how several strategies enable bacteria to persist and overcome insect immune defences. Genetic and genomic tools that can be used with Drosophila melanogaster have enabled the characterization of the pathways that are used by insects to detect bacterial invaders and combat infection. Conservation of bacterial virulence factors and insect immune repertoires indicates that there are common strategies of host invasion and pathogen eradication. Long-term interactions of bacteria with insects might ensure efficient dissemination of pathogens to other hosts, including humans. R E V I E W S302 | APRIL 2008 | voLUME 6 www.nature.com/reviews/micro

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Section: Ingestion Of Microorganismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial strategies to overcome insect defences

2008

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“…As cockroaches are the exclusive hosts of A. compressa larvae, representing both their food source and microenvironment, the wasp larvae need effective defense mechanisms against competitive, putrefactive, and pathogenic microbes (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). In this study, we found clear evidence that A. compressa larvae are capable of coping with antagonistic microbes inside their P. americana hosts by using a mixture of antimicrobials present in their oral secretion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…S. marcescens (Enterobacteriaceae) is a ubiquitous, Gram-negative bacterium and a common colonizer of cockroaches (10)(11)(12)(13). It is responsible for food contamination (26) and causes disease in plants (27), invertebrates (4,26,28), and vertebrates, including humans (29).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The range of microbes that A. compressa larvae may encounter during their development in their hosts is unpredictable and may encompass all different kinds of microbes, such as various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, mycobacteria, viruses, yeasts, and filamentous fungi (8,9,11,12,14,40). An effective strategy to gain a reliable and enduring protection against a broad spectrum of microbes may therefore be the application of large amounts of a mixture of several relatively unspecific antimicrobial compounds (41,42).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, cockroaches, such as the peridomestic American cockroach Periplaneta americana (Blattaria, Blattidae), are suspected vectors of food spoilage and pathogenic microbes (6,7). Owing to their unsanitary lifestyle, they can pick up, carry, and transfer a plethora of bacteria and fungi (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14) and hence represent a potential health problem to humans, as well as wild and domestic animals.…”

Section: γ-Lactones and Isocoumarins With (R)-(-)-mellein [(R)-(-)-3mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Larvae of the parasitoid wasp Ampulex compressa sanitize their host, the American cockroach, with a blend of antimicrobials

Herzner

Schlecht

Dollhofer

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Food resources contaminated with spoilage or pathogenic microorganisms pose severe problems to all higher organisms. Here, we describe a food-hygienic strategy of the emerald cockroach wasp Ampulex compressa . The wasp larvae develop on and inside the American cockroach Periplaneta americana , a host that can harbor various putrefactive microbes, as well as human and insect pathogens. From P. americana , we isolated the Gram-negative bacterium Serratia marcescens , which is a potent entomopathogen that can rapidly kill insect larvae. It is also known as a food contaminant and as an opportunistic human pathogen. Using behavioral observations and chemical analyses, we demonstrated that A. compressa larvae impregnate their cockroach hosts from inside with large amounts of an oral secretion containing a blend of γ-lactones and isocoumarins with ( R )-(-)-mellein [( R )-(-)-3,4-diydro-8-hydroxy-3-methylisocoumarin] and micromolide [(4 R ,9 Z )-octadec-9-en-4-olide] as dominant components. We fractionated hexane extracts of the secretion and investigated the antimicrobial properties of the fraction containing the lactones and isocoumarins, as well as of synthetic ( R )-(-)-mellein and micromolide, against S. marcescens and a Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus hyicus , in broth microdilution assays. The test fraction inhibited growth of both tested bacteria. The activity of the fraction against S. marcescens was explained by ( R )-(-)-mellein alone, and the activity against S. hyicus was explained by the combined action of ( R )-(-)-mellein and micromolide. Our data suggest that the specific combination of antimicrobials in the larval secretion provides an effective frontline defense against the unpredictable spectrum of microbes that A. compressa larvae may encounter during their development inside their cockroach hosts.

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Insects As Vectors Of Foodborne Pathogens

Zurek

Gorham

2008

Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security

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Many of the numerous species of insects that are attracted to food and to food‐contact surfaces carry on or within their bodies a plethora of bacteria and other microbes, some of which are capable of causing disease in humans and domestic animals. Strict adherence to standard sanitation practices and constant vigilance at all levels of the food chain are the primary lines of defense against incidents of foodborne disease. Flies and cockroaches are notable for their habits of indiscriminately visiting both pathogen‐laden substrates and food destined for human or domestic animal consumption. Ants that enter buildings are both indefatigable foragers and reliable carriers and disseminators of any pathogens they happen to acquire. The moths and beetles that live in dry cereal foods are capable of transporting fungal spores within the food material. It is not possible to prevent all instances of contamination of food by pathogens carried by insects. However, that eventuality can be minimized by implementing a four‐pronged program, AIM=F: anticipate—document all possible scenarios by which insects might contaminate food; inform—train all persons associated with the food chain to recognize danger when they see it; mitigate—develop and practice protocols to quickly deal with any actual or potential incident of food contamination by insects; frustrate—utilizing the first three action measures will neutralize or minimize any deliberate attempt to effect a bioterror incident.

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Cockroaches as Potential Vectors of Nosocomial Infections

Abstract: Because cockroach infestation occurred in more than 40% of the hospitals and nearly all of the cockroaches harbored bacteria with multidrug resistance and fungi, cockroaches may play a potential role in the epidemiology of nosocomial infections in those hospitals.

Cited by 74 publications

References 13 publications

Bacterial strategies to overcome insect defences

Bacterial strategies to overcome insect defences

Larvae of the parasitoid wasp Ampulex compressa sanitize their host, the American cockroach, with a blend of antimicrobials

Insects As Vectors Of Foodborne Pathogens

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