Scholarlink

<p><i>Camponotus maculatus</i> ranks among the largest African ant species, displaying remarkable surface activity when foraging for food. This research was carried out in the Entomology laboratory of the Federal University of Technology, Akure and surrounding settlements in Akure metropolis with the objectives of providing insight on foraging behaviour, infestation and potential to vector foodborne pathogenic microorganisms to food in kitchens by ants. Observation stations were set up with different food attractants (sugar, honey, cola drink, milk and candy) dry and moistened soaked in cotton wool. Microbial analyses of ants placed to forage on contaminated food and introduced to fresh food showed the ants have vector potential to transmit foodborne pathogens. Majority of <i>C. maculatus</i> ants exhibited a distinct preference for sugary foods over other tastes, and moist food over dry food. The relative abundance of the ants attracted in different location using similar food attractants were significantly different (p &lt; 0.05). In the microbial evaluation of fresh food exposed to infected ants from contaminated food, microbial colony counts of <i>Aspergillus</i> spp. (11.22 ± 0.66&#xa0;SFU/ml) and <i>Staphyloccocus aureus</i> (11.11 ± 0.72&#xa0;CFU/ml) are significantly different (p &lt; 0.05) from that of <i>Bacillus</i> spp. (20.78 ± 0.85&#xa0;CFU/ml). <i>C. maculatus</i> selective and potential transmission capacity for pathogen is driven by the environment and the food sources.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Environment, foraging instinct and food attractiveness promote indoor foodborne pathogens carrying capacity of Camponotus maculatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Nigeria

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年3月31日

查看全文
  • Kayode Lawrence Akinwande,
  • Oluwole Olakunle Oladele,
  • Blessing Alagbada

摘要

Camponotus maculatus ranks among the largest African ant species, displaying remarkable surface activity when foraging for food. This research was carried out in the Entomology laboratory of the Federal University of Technology, Akure and surrounding settlements in Akure metropolis with the objectives of providing insight on foraging behaviour, infestation and potential to vector foodborne pathogenic microorganisms to food in kitchens by ants. Observation stations were set up with different food attractants (sugar, honey, cola drink, milk and candy) dry and moistened soaked in cotton wool. Microbial analyses of ants placed to forage on contaminated food and introduced to fresh food showed the ants have vector potential to transmit foodborne pathogens. Majority of C. maculatus ants exhibited a distinct preference for sugary foods over other tastes, and moist food over dry food. The relative abundance of the ants attracted in different location using similar food attractants were significantly different (p < 0.05). In the microbial evaluation of fresh food exposed to infected ants from contaminated food, microbial colony counts of Aspergillus spp. (11.22 ± 0.66 SFU/ml) and Staphyloccocus aureus (11.11 ± 0.72 CFU/ml) are significantly different (p < 0.05) from that of Bacillus spp. (20.78 ± 0.85 CFU/ml). C. maculatus selective and potential transmission capacity for pathogen is driven by the environment and the food sources.