Ants as mechanical vectors of microorganisms in the School Hospital of the Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

Pelli, Afonso¹  Silva, Paulo Roberto da¹  Teixeira, Maxelle Martins¹  Terra, Ana Paula Sarreta¹  Martins, Elisabeth¹  Carvalho, Glenda Pereira de¹  Morais, César Augusto de¹  Oliveira, Adriana Gonçalves¹  Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba¹  Costa, Sílvia Baldan da¹  Resende, Elisabete Montovani¹  Oliveira, Cristina da Cunha Hueb Barata de¹ 

关键词: Ants;    Distribution;    Hospital infection;    Pathogenic microorganisms;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0037-86822006000600003

学科分类：农业科学（综合）

来源: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

【 摘 要 】

The pathogens associated with ants at the teaching hospital of the Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro, in Uberaba, MG, were studied. Three species of ants were identified: Tapinoma melanocephalum, Pheidole sp and Paratrechina longicornis. The principal microorganisms found were Staphylococcus sp, Gram-positive bacilli, Pseudomonas sp and Micrococcus sp. The results from the collections were analyzed according to the number of colonies and the different microorganisms isolated, using Student's t test. The statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference only with regard to Staphylococcus sp. (p =0.005). It is possible that ants and pathogenic agents have mutualistic associations, and that analysis of such relationships may lead to new pest control strategies, with an emphasis not only on the insects but also especially on which agent is associated with these insect species.

【 授权许可】

Unknown