Authors
Abstract
Acanthocephalans have a worldwide distribution and cause zoonotic disease in humans called acanthocephaliasis. Studies on acanthocephalans in Sri Lanka have been carried out on the definitive vertebrate host but not on the intermediate host. Occurrence of acanthocephalans in two most commonly occurring cockroach species, Periplaneta americana and Pycnoscelus surinamensis was studied in selected sites in Peradeniya University premises. Of the 86 cockroaches dissected,35% of P. americana was infected with Moniliformis moniliformis. Four developmental stages; acanthor, precanthellae, encysted cystscanth and excystedcystacanth were found in the cockroach. Both adult cockroachesand nymphs were infected. More females (92%) were infected than males (58%; χ2 = 16.478, df = 1, p< 0.001). The prevalence of infection was significantly higher in the cockroaches caught in the chicken farm (59%) where the definitive host rats were abundant than those inhabiting a hall of residence in the University (20%). None of the P. surinamensis dissected (29) were infected. This study establishes P. americana as an intermediate host of M. moniliformis but does not preclude the possibility of other species of cockroach serving in this capacity.