McAllister J C, Steelman C D, Skeeles J K, Newberry L A, Gbur E E
Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701, USA.
J Med Entomol. 1996 Nov;33(6):983-7. doi: 10.1093/jmedent/33.6.983.
Larval and adult lesser mealworms, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), were found to harbor a Congo red-binding strain of Escherichia coli (Migula) Castellani & Chalmers both on the external surface of their body and internally for 12 d. Thereafter, E. coli was not detected, even though the beetles were exposed continuously to a food source inoculated with the bacteria. Lesser mealworm larvae and adults discharge E. coli bacteria in their feces for up to 6 and 10 d, respectively. However, bacteria were no longer detected in their feces after larvae underwent a single molt to the next larval stage. This indicated there was no transstadial transmission of this strain of E. coli. Consumed infected larvae were found to cause more 1-d-old chicks to have positive cloacal swabs for Congo red-binding E. coli than consumed infected adults. The data indicated that the lesser mealworm may play a role in the direct transmission of E. coli and contribute to the spread of this bacteria in broiler production systems. This may be achieved by beetles being directly consumed by chickens or indirectly by spread of the bacteria throughout the broiler house by lesser mealworm feces.
研究发现，幼虫和成虫期的小粉虫（Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer)）在其体表和体内均携带一种刚果红结合型大肠杆菌（Escherichia coli (Migula) Castellani & Chalmers）长达12天。此后，即便这些甲虫持续接触接种了该细菌的食物源，也未检测到大肠杆菌。小粉虫幼虫和成虫分别在长达6天和10天的时间里通过粪便排出大肠杆菌。然而，幼虫进入下一龄期经历一次蜕皮后，粪便中就不再检测到细菌。这表明该菌株的大肠杆菌不存在经变态期传播的情况。研究发现，与食用感染的成虫相比，食用感染的幼虫会导致更多1日龄雏鸡泄殖腔拭子检测出刚果红结合型大肠杆菌呈阳性。数据表明，小粉虫可能在大肠杆菌的直接传播中起作用，并促使这种细菌在肉鸡生产系统中传播。这可能通过鸡直接食用甲虫，或通过小粉虫粪便将细菌传播到整个肉鸡舍间接实现。
