Cockroaches (Blattaria) as Vectors of Food Poisoning and Food Infection Organisms1

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Abstract
In a survey of cockroaches from 19 cities throughout the United States and including 6298 specimens, 2 types of Salmonella, S. anatum and S. oranienburg, were isolated from Periplaneta americana Linn. An enterotoxigenic strain of Staphylococcus aureus Rosenbach was also isolated from cockroach fecal pellets. In experimental vector studies, S. aureus was recovered from fecal pellets of P. americana 3 days after the infective feeding; Salmonella typhosa (Zoph) White, 5 to 6 days; and Shigella flexner 2 for as long as 11 to 13 days. In supplementary experimental studies, S. oranienburg remained viable in infected P. americana fecal pellets for 140 days. Survival of the organisms when roach pellets were spread on food and glass were as follows: on corn flakes, 3 yrs 3 mo; on crackers, more than 4 yrs 3 mo; and on glass slides, more than 3 yrs 8 mo. Mice were readily infected when exposed to minute amounts of infected fecal material from P. americana. Cross infection sometimes occurred between infected and noninfected cockroaches.

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