Experimental Transmission of Salmonella oranienburg through Cockroaches

Abstract

This study was made to obtain, through exptl. procedures, information helpful in evaluating the role of cockroaches in Salmonella outbreaks. Methods for rearing and handling the roaches and preventing self-contamination during the exptl. period are descr. After Salmonella-free roaches were given a single infective feeding of S. oranienburg, the American roach passed infected pellets for 10 days, the German roach 12 days, and the Oriental roach 20 days. On post mortem, the last was found infected at the end of 42 days. Through mouth contact, watering tubes of the roaches have been contaminated at least 4 days, after the infective feeding. S. oranienburg can survive 199 days in fecal pellets of the roach; the same Salmonella from a culture can survive 62 days on corn flakes, 88 days on soda crackers 34 days on glasssurface 78 days on the pro-notum of the roach, and 15 days on moist cotton of the watering device carmine and acriflavine could be detected in fecal pellets of American roaches for approx. 6 days after feeding.