general survey of ciliates associated with periplaneta americana [L] in the central region of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work is to identify and classify different species of ciliates which live in the alimentary canal of Periplaneta americana [L.] in the central region of Saudi Arabia. This insect was chosen because of the direct and indirect relationship to man. Identification of ciliates that live in the alimentary canal of this insect may be useful in the future for eradication of insects probably by making an epidemic among such insects. The present communication recorded three species of ciliates from the intestine of the cockroach P. americana [L.] for the first time in Saudi Arabia; they are Nyctotherus ovalis [Leidy], percentage of infection was 100% with a density of 86-102, Balantidium ovatum [Ghosh], percentage of infection was 100% with a density of 18-39 and B. blattarum [Ghosh], percentage of infection was 3% with a density of 8-14