J. Exp. Zool. India Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 709-710, 2013 ISSN 0972-0030

IDENTIFICATION OF COLLECTED FROM AHVAZ HOSPITALS, SOUTH- WEST OF IRAN

Abdughani Ameri1, Babak Vazirianzadeh2, Behzad Ehdaei3, Hossein Motamedi4, Zeinab Arab Sadeghabadi5, Mohsen Ghanbari3, Nersi Nasirabadi4,6 and Akbar Asmar7 1Department of Drug and Food Control Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 2Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, and Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 3Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 4Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran. 5Department of Microbiology Sciences and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Fars, Iran. 6Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 7Faculty of Para-Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. e mail: [email protected] (Accepted 10 June 2013)

ABSTRACT- Cockroaches act as an important mechanical or biological vector for lots of pathogenic microorganism agents. The aim of this study was to identify the major species in hospital environments in Ahvaz, capital of Khuzestan province, Iran. Totally, 7 hospitals and one private clinic of Ahvaz were investigated to collect the cockroaches using hand catch method. Totally, 76 cockroaches were collected from different parts of Ahvaz hospitals and one private clinic in the present study. They were identified as 4 species of cockroaches. From the data of this study it is concluded that the major collected cockroach species from Ahvaz hospitals are similar to the same studies of Iran. Key words : Identification, cockroach, Ahwaz, Iran.

INTRODUCTION cockroaches of Ahvaz hospitals (Fakoorziba et al, 2010; There are more than 4000 known species of Vahabi et al, 2011). cockroaches over the world, however less than 40 of them are very close to human dwellings. The aim of this study was, therefore, to identify the major cockroach species in hospital environments in Ahvaz, Cockroaches, order , act as an capital of Khuzestan province. important mechanical or biological vector for lots of pathogenic microorganism agents, including bacteria, MATERIALS AND METHODS protozoa, worms, fungi, and viruses amongst humans and This study was carried out in Ahvaz (31°192 133 N (Tatfeg et al, 2005; Salehhzadeh et al, 2007; 48°402 093 E) as a part of the central coordination Vazirianzadeh et al, 2009; Adeleke et al, 2012; Nejati et Khuzestan (31.3273°N 48.6940°E), capital of Khuzestan, al, 2012). They can transmit different microorganisms, a south-western province of Iran from during April 2013 special medically important bacteria in the hospitals to July 2013. (Fakoorziba et al, 2010). Totally, 7 hospitals and one private clinic of Ahvaz Therefore, reducing and eradication of their population were investigated to collect the cockroaches. The hand have been considered as one of the most medical important catch method (using glove) was used to collect the insects around the world. One of the most important steps cockroach samples from different parts of Ahvaz hospitals. to do an approach of pest management is the identification The samples were transported into sterile containers to of pest species. Because each species has own ecology the medical entomology lab, school of public health, Ahvaz and biology that effect the kind of selected control Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences. They were measures (FAO, 2013). identified using Cochran and Department of Entomology However, a few studies have been performed on and Nematology University of Florida keys by species identifying cockroaches from hospitals of Iran, but there level (Cochran, 1999; Department of Entomology and is not available a comprehensive study regarding Nematology of University Florida, 2013). 710 Abdughani Ameri et al RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Ahvaz, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Totally, 76 cockroaches were collected from different Ahwaz, Iran and Eng. Sina Hemmatpour because of their parts of Ahvaz hospitals and one private clinic in the present supporting during the current research. study. They were identified as 4 species of cockroaches This research, as a part of a Pharmacy Doctorate including: , americana thesis, has been financial supported by Department of (Blattodea: ), , Blatella Research Affairs and Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz germanica (Blattodea: Blatellida), Oriental cockroach, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran. orientalis (Blattodea: Blattidae) and brown-banded REFERENCES cockroach, longipalpa (Blattodea: ). Adeleke M A, Akatah H A, Hassan A O, Sam-Wobo S O, Famodimu T Frequencies of collected cockroaches were obtained M , Olatunde G O and Mafiana C F (2012) Implication of as: 45 (59.21%) of P. americana, 17 (22.37%) of B. cockroaches as vectors of gastrointestinal parasites in parts of orientalis , 10 (13.16%) of B. germanica and 4(5.26%) Osogbo, Southwestern Nigeria. Mun. Ent. Zool. 7, 1106-1110. of S. longipalpa. 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Microbiol. 2, 36-40. eradication measures should be applied to decrease the Zarchi A A and Vatani H A (2009) Survey on species and prevalence cockroach population. rate of bacterial agents isolated from cockroaches in three hospitals. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 9, 197-200. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We are very grateful to Dr. Eskandar Moghimipour, dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, Eastern Heath Centre of