Entomopathogenic Fungi as Biocontrol Agents: Isolation from Flies and Cockroaches Associated with Human Disease Transmission

Aminu Musa; Zul’aziyya Ibrahim Abbas; Mohammed Suleiman; Nasir Hassan Wagini; Aliyu Musa Yusuf; Ibrahim Sani; Huzaifa Sani

Authors

Aminu Musa Department of Biological Science, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, PMB 2218, Katsina, Nigeria Author
Zul’aziyya Ibrahim Abbas Department of Biological Science, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, PMB 2218, Katsina, Nigeria Author
Mohammed Suleiman Department of Biological Science, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, PMB 2218, Katsina, Nigeria Author
Nasir Hassan Wagini Department of Biological Science, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, PMB 2218, Katsina, Nigeria Author
Aliyu Musa Yusuf Department of Biological Science, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, PMB 2218, Katsina, Nigeria Author
Ibrahim Sani Department of Biological Science, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, PMB 2218, Katsina, Nigeria Author
Huzaifa Sani Department of Zoology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto P.M.B 2348 Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria Author

Keywords:

Entomopathogenic fungi, insect cadavers, insect pests, biological control

Abstract

Entomopathogenic fungi are the natural enemies of insect pests. This study aimed to isolate and identify entomopathogenic fungi from insect cadavers of two human-associated pests collected from different locations at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina. Ten (10) insect cadaver samples of each cockroaches and houseflies were collected from four (4) different locations and transferred to the Microbiology laboratory for analysis. The samples of insects were surface-sterilized and placed in a PDA medium supplemented with antibiotics. Fungal growth was monitored, subcultured into a fresh potato dextrose agar (PDA), and identified using a standard protocol. Samples of the insects were surface-sterilized and placed in a PDA medium with antibiotics. Results showed the occurrence of five (5) different species of fungal isolates that include: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizopus oryzae, Microsporum niger, and Aspergillus niger. A total of 17 isolates of fungi were recovered from 20 samples of houseflies and cockroaches. Aspergillus niger is the most encountered species, with 29.41%, followed by Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus oryzae, each with 23.53%. Other isolated fungi include Aspergillus fumigatus at 17.65% and Microsporum canis at 5.88%. This study confirmed that the EPF could be isolated from cockroaches and houseflies sampled from toilets and dump sites. Furthermore, both fungal isolates may be considered as biological control candidates for major insect pests of medical importance.

References

Ashbrook, A. R., Mikaelyan, A., & Schal, C., 2022. Comparative Efficacy of a Fungal Entomopathogen with a Broad Host Range against Two Human-Associated Pests. Insects, 13(9), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13090774

Dayanti, A. K., Sholahuddin, Yunus, A., & Subositi, D., 2018. First record of entomopathogenic fungi on autumn leaf Caterpillar (Doleschallia bisaltide). IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 142(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/142/1/012040

Esparza Mora, M.A., Costa Rouws, J.R. and Fraga, M.E. (2016) ‘Occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in atlantic forest soils’, Microbiology Discovery, 4(1), pp. 1–7. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7243/2052-6180-4-1.

Haghi, S. F. M., Aghili, S. R., Gholami, S., Salmanian, B., Nikokar, S. H., Geravi, M. K., & Hajati, H., 2014. Isolation of medically important fungi from cockroaches trapped at hospitals of Sari, Iran. Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and Life Sciences, 3(V), 29–36.

Yunusa, H., Suleiman, M., Wagini, N.H., Bindawa, K.A., Yusuf, A.M., Sani, I., (2025) ‘Identification and Biocontrol Potentials of Entomopathogenic Fungi, Isaria fumosorosea Isolated from the Anophelines Mosquito’, Dutse Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 11(1), pp. 278–285.

Patil, A J., 2023. Evaluation of transmission capacity of houseflies and cockroaches for pathogenic human intestinal parasites. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 10(4), 1464–1468. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230924

Khamesipour, F., Lankarani, K. B., Honarvar, B., & Kwenti, T. E., 2018. A systematic review of human pathogens carried by the housefly (Musca domestica L.). BMC Public Health, 18(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5934-3

Khodabandeh, M., Shirani-Bidabadi, L., Madani, M., & Zahraei-Ramazani, A., 2020. Study on Periplaneta americana (Blattodea: Blattidae) Fungal Infections in Hospital Sewer System, Esfahan City, Iran, 2017. Journal of Pathogens, 2020, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/4296720

Lamiaa, B., Mariam, L., & Ahmed, A., 2007. Bacteriological analysis of Periplaneta americana L. (Dictyoptera; Blattidae) and Musca domestica L. (Diptera; Muscidae) in ten districts of Tangier, Morocco. African Journal of Biotechnology, 6(17), 2038–2042. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajb2007.000-2315

Oyeyemi, O. T., Agbaje, M. O., & Okelue, U. B. 2016. Food-borne human parasitic pathogens associated with household cockroaches and houseflies in Nigeria. Parasite Epidemiology and Control, 1(1), 10–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parepi.2015.10.001

Sani, I., Jamian, S., Saad, N., Abdullah, S., & Hata, E. M. 2023. Identification and virulence of entomopathogenic fungi, Isaria javanica and Purpureocillium lilacinum isolated from the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera : Aleyrodidae) in Malaysia. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, 33(14), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-023-00657-4

Suleiman, A. I., Itopa, A. A., Barnabas, O., Ibrahim, A. O., Muhammed, A., Halilu, O., … Oyiza, U. 2023. Isolation and morphological identification of fungal entomopathogens from soil samples and cockroaches. International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies, 10(4), 45–48.

Watanabe, T. 2010. Pictorial Atlas of Soil and Seed Fungi Morphologies of Cultured Fungi and Key to Species. In Pictorial Atlas of Soil and Seed Fungi (3rd ed.). https://doi.org/10.1201/ebk1439804193-c3