Spatial Distribution of cockroaches using GIS technique in residential buildings in Ahvaz City, Southwest Iran

Background: Cockroaches are known as potential carriers of infectious diseases, as well as the definitive causes of allergic reactions in human, especially children. These insect pests are considered as an important urban health problem.Objectives: This study was done to determine the active species and prevalence of cockroaches using GIS technique in residential buildings in Ahvaz city, southwest Iran.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in 52 areas of Ahvaz city during 2017. Totally, 520 houses were randomly selected for sampling. Sticky trap and questionnaire were used to catch cockroaches from the residential houses. Geographic coordinates of the selected houses were recorded using GPS. Then the data was transferred to the Arc GIS 9.3 software to prepare the digital maps of spatial distribution and the frequency of caught species.Results: The collected cockroaches were identified as Periplaneta americana, Supella longipalpa and Blattella germanica, Blatta lateralis and Blatta orientalis. The prevalence rate of cockroach infestation was 36.3% in Ahvaz city. The digital distribution maps cleared that B. germanica with abundance of 25.8% was the most prevalent species collected from 133 houses in 45 areas out of 52 followed by P. americana(11%), S. longipalpa(5.6%), B. lateralis(3.3%) and B. orientalis (2.7%) . Of the infected houses, 11.1%, 66.7% and 22.2% had low, moderate and severe infestation with averages of 37.5, 10 and 2.5 adults/home and 102.8, 32.7 and 17 nymphs/ home. The most cockroach infected areas were Bahonar with 87%, followed by Asiadabad, Sheiban, Abedi and Karishan with 80% infestation rates. The least infestation was reported from Zaytun Karmandy and no infestation was reported from Police, Naft and Foolad areas.Conclusion: Digital maps will provide the authorities more information about the high risk areas that would assist in the control activities. By providing the spatial distribution maps of the cockroach infestation in urban areas, it is possible to increase the knowledge and awareness of the public about the medical importance of cockroaches, their biology and behavior, and to adopt appropriate preventive and control strategies for their elimination.

کلیدواژه ها:

Distribution ، Cockroaches ، GIS ، infestation