STEREO AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY CHARACTERISTICS OF POULTRY BREEDING BEETLE (Alphitobius diaperinus) – A FILAMENTOUS TOXIGENIC FUNGI CARRIER

This study isolated Alphitobius diaperinus (live and dead) insects from shed’s aviary bed to investigate their fungi spores distribution (that affects chicken health and meat production) and their accumulation sites (dorsal & ventral) characteristics by different microscopies (stereo and scanning electron). Despite live beetles being the main fungi spore carriers, the dead ones had far more spores attached on their body exoskeleton thereby being a focus of infection. That was due to the anatomical sites favoring spores trapping effect, together with beetles’ different moisture content. Regarding the spores distribution and so the hyphae presence & mycelia concentration on dead A. diaperinus, they were mainly detected at the (a) elytra, elytral suture and pronotum (on the dorsal side). Despite that, the highest spores/mycelia concentration was at the mouthparts, prosternum and legs (femur & tarsus) (on the ventral side). Indeed the beetle’s ventral anatomical microscopic structures (mouthparts & legs) sheltered the highest fungi spores concentration and colonies proliferation. Thus dead beetle colonies growth lead to spore multiplication, their dissemination throughout the aviary bed environment and so their contact to chicken feet and body, leading to discomfort and diseases development / mycotoxicosis. The filamentous fungi were most detected from the Aspergillus and Penicillium genera. Therefore dead beetles should be removed from aviary (at each 45 breeding cycle) to reduce contamination. They represent rich substrates for fungi development with possibility of toxin formation, apart from the chicken diseases exposure due to their insects eating habits.