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Cockroaches as carriers of fungi of medical importance
Author(s) -
Lemos A. A.,
Lemos J. A.,
Prado M. A.,
Pimenta F. C.,
Gir E.,
Silva H. M.,
Silva M. R. R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2005.01179.x
Subject(s) - cockroach , periplaneta , flora (microbiology) , carriage , biology , aspergillus , penicillium , microbiology and biotechnology , toxicology , medicine , ecology , botany , bacteria , genetics , pathology
Summary The fungal pathogenic flora of the external surface of 103 cockroaches ( Periplaneta americana ) collected from the intensive care unit of a hospital were investigated. In this study, a high percentage of test cockroaches (93.2%) were found to carry fungi of medical importance. The main fungi isolated were species of Candida , Aspergillus and Penicillium . Information about the carriage of pathogenic fungi by cockroaches in hospital environment is scanty. The results suggest that cockroaches can play a role in dissemination of fungi, which they can carry on their external surface.