RESERVOIR COMPETENCE OF ALPHITOBILIS DIAPERINUS (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA POULTRY HOUSES FOR MICROORGANISMA.D. BANJO, O.A. LAWAL AND B.O. OSINUGAAbstract Adult beetles and larvae of the lesser mealworm were collected from 5 poultry farms in ljebu-Ode, of about 1 km distance apart. Samples were taken to the laboratory to isolate and identify the macro- organisms associated with them. The microorganism, were cultured from both the gut and body surface of both the adult beetle and its larva on standard plate count agar, macConkey agar (for bacteria) and patato dextrose agar (for fungi). They were incubated at temperatures of 35°C and 37°C for 48 hours before observations. A variety of microorganisms were isolated from both the adult beetle and the larvae. Most of the organisms were found to be pathogenic which includes Bacillus cereus. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Klebsiella aerogenes and Aspergillus flavus. The non pathogenic microbes recovered were Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus faecalis. Although S. faecalis can be regarded as an opportunistic pathogen. The presence of pathogenic microbes as a microflora of lesser meal worm and its larvae therefore pose a threat to the well being of livestock such as poultry that feed on them. Monitoring and control of lesser meal worm are threfore recommended to avoid the implication of diseases from feeding on contaminated beetles.
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