Abstract

Cockroaches have become the most common pest in many households. Their presence usually raises concern, especially as carriers of pathogenic bacteria. The present study was conducted to assess the antibacterial activity of clove (Syzigium aromaticum) in the diet of cockroaches (Supella longipalpa and Blattodea germanica) sampled from Lapai. Adult cockroaches carrying eggs were caught and reared for ten (10) weeks until the eggs hatched into nymphs. Diets with the inclusion of cloves were formulated as; D1 (carrot, lettuce, milk, sorghum flour and yeast (1:1:2:10:1) control), D2 (0.1 g clove meal with D 1), D3 (0.2 g clove meal with D1), D4 (0.3 g clove meal with D1) and D5 (commercial biscuit; control). At the end of the study period, cockroaches were sacrificed randomly to assess the bacterial load on the body surface and gastrointestinal tract of both species. It was revealed that the bacterial load on the body surface of B. germanica ranged from 6.10±2.15 to 9.50±0.25 while the GIT ranged from 7.17±0.33 to 9.80±0.06 cfu/ml. Similarly, the bacterial load on S. longipalpa ranged from 70±0.20 to 9.57±0.28 on the body surface and 7.13±0.29 to 9.33±0.15 CFU/ml in the GIT contents. The bacteria distribution in samples fed clove meal showed lesser occurrence of bacteria isolates than those fed the control diet. It can therefore be concluded that the inclusion of clove in cockroach diets showed good antibacterial activity.