Importance of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) as a reservoir for pathogenic bacteria in Algerian broiler houses.

During 2008, a study has been conducted on the potential of Alphitobius diaperinus as a reservoir of many poultry pathogenic bacteria, in twenty broiler houses in the North-East of Algeria. Many groups of bacteria have been enumerated; Salmonella and thermophilic campylobacters contaminations have been searched. Both adults and larvae carried and harbored multiple species and numbers of poultry pathogenic bacteria. 5% of adults' surfaces were Salmonella arizonae - positive and no thermophilic campylobacters were identified. Interiors of both adults and larvae were more contaminated with gram-negative bacteria, coliforms and streptococci than their surfaces. As this insect is an important source of poultry pathogenic bacteria in our region, serious measures must be implemented to control it.