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External surface disinfection of the lesser mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Tawni L Crippen1, Cynthia Sheffield
1Southern Plains Area Research Center, USDA-ARS, 2881 F and B Road, College Station, TX 77845, USA.
Abstract:
Understanding the dynamics of movement of bacteria within the environment and between species is crucial to unraveling the epidemiology of bacterial diseases and to developing biosecurity measures to prevent dissemination. Many arthropods, some beneficial and some detrimental, inhabit poultry houses. The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is a pest commonly found in poultry litter that can harbor pathogens involved in both human and animal health issues. Current farm management practices perpetuate persistent infestations contributing to the dispersal of beetles and pathogens. To study the dissemination of bacteria by this beetle, we require the ability to differentiate internal from external sources of bacteria carried by the beetle. In this study, we tested previously described methods to externally disinfect beetles and found disinfectant efficacies between 40 and 98%. The irregular surface of the insect posed a challenge to cleansing procedures because the surface offered many recesses able to sequester bacteria. Complete bacterial disinfection was achieved with a serial treatment of ethanol and hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide/peracetic acid.
Insights
Disinfecting the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) is key to understanding bacterial spread in poultry farms. Serial treatments with ethanol and hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide/peracetic acid effectively eliminate external bacteria on these beetles.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Entomology
- Microbial Ecology
- Agricultural Pest Management
Background:
- The lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) is a poultry house pest that can harbor and disseminate bacterial pathogens.
- Current poultry farm management practices can lead to persistent beetle infestations, aiding pathogen dispersal.
- Differentiating internal and external bacterial sources on beetles is essential for studying disease epidemiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of external disinfection methods for lesser mealworms (Alphitobius diaperinus).
- To identify optimal disinfection protocols for removing surface bacteria from these beetles.
- To facilitate research on bacterial dissemination by A. diaperinus in poultry environments.
Main Methods:
- Testing previously described external disinfection methods on A. diaperinus.
- Assessing disinfectant efficacy using quantitative measures.
- Employing serial treatment protocols involving ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, and peracetic acid.
Main Results:
- Disinfectant efficacies ranged from 40% to 98% against external bacteria.
- The irregular exoskeleton of A. diaperinus presented challenges for complete bacterial removal.
- Complete external bacterial disinfection was achieved using serial treatments of ethanol/hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide/peracetic acid.
Conclusions:
- Effective external disinfection of A. diaperinus is achievable with specific serial treatments.
- Optimized disinfection protocols are crucial for accurate studies on beetle-mediated bacterial transmission.
- This research supports improved biosecurity measures in poultry production by controlling pathogen vectors.
