Detection of Yeasts from Cockroaches’ Intestine by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Techniques and DNA Sequencing in Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 and 2 (ITS1-2)

Abstract

Cockroaches are omnivore that are capable of transmitting many human pathogens. The major habitat is dwellings, so there is a high possibility that pathogens are acquired by cockroaches. This research aimed to explore the yeasts in gut of cockroaches collected from Bangphli housing, Amphoe Bang Sao Thong, Samutprakarn province. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 region (ITS1-2) followed by DNA sequencing to compare the findings with NCBI database. The results revealed that 75% of the yeasts were opportunistic pathogens in human classified as Candida tropicalis (40%), C. glabrata (20%), C. nivariensis (5%), C. palmioleophila (5%), Pichia kudriavzevii (5%) and the other 25% were non-pathogenic yeasts. These pathogenic yeasts can cause serious infections in immunocompromised patients and have been recognized to have high incidence of drug resistance especially to the azole group. The data from this study emphasized the significance of cockroaches as potential vectors of medically important yeasts in community environments.