McAllister_1996_J.Med.Entomol_33_983

Reference

Title : Reservoir competence of Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae) for Escherichia coli (Eubacteriales:Enterobacteriaceae) - McAllister_1996_J.Med.Entomol_33_983
Author(s) : McAllister JC , Steelman CD , Skeeles JK , Newberry LA , Gbur EE
Ref : Journal of Medical Entomology , 33 :983 , 1996
Abstract :

Larval and adult lesser mealworms, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), were found to harbor a Congo red-binding strain of Escherichia coli (Migula) Castellani & Chalmers both on the external surface of their body and internally for 12 d. Thereafter, E. coli was not detected, even though the beetles were exposed continuously to a food source inoculated with the bacteria. Lesser mealworm larvae and adults discharge E. coli bacteria in their feces for up to 6 and 10 d, respectively. However, bacteria were no longer detected in their feces after larvae underwent a single molt to the next larval stage. This indicated there was no transstadial transmission of this strain of E. coli. Consumed infected larvae were found to cause more 1-d-old chicks to have positive cloacal swabs for Congo red-binding E. coli than consumed infected adults. The data indicated that the lesser mealworm may play a role in the direct transmission of E. coli and contribute to the spread of this bacteria in broiler production systems. This may be achieved by beetles being directly consumed by chickens or indirectly by spread of the bacteria throughout the broiler house by lesser mealworm feces.

PubMedSearch : McAllister_1996_J.Med.Entomol_33_983
PubMedID: 8961651

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Citations formats

McAllister JC, Steelman CD, Skeeles JK, Newberry LA, Gbur EE (1996)
Reservoir competence of Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae) for Escherichia coli (Eubacteriales:Enterobacteriaceae)
Journal of Medical Entomology 33 :983

McAllister JC, Steelman CD, Skeeles JK, Newberry LA, Gbur EE (1996)
Journal of Medical Entomology 33 :983