Morphology, Protein Profile and the Level of Infestation of Bedbugs (Hempitera: Cimicidae) in the Halls of Residence of a Higher Institution in Lagos.

Abstract

Morphology, protein profile and the level of Bedbug infestations were carried out at a University in Lagos, Nigeria after an outcry of high infestation by the students in halls of residence. Three bedbugswere each collected from nine halls of residence for morphological characterization of adults and to carry out protein profile analysis usingSodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Coomassie staining method. Level of infestation of Bedbugs was carried out in two female halls A and Busing blood smeared on the walls. All bedbugs found were Cimex hemipterus. 29.8% of the rooms in Hall Bhad no bedbug infestation, 23.9%, 20.2%, 15.4% and 10.6% had low, average, high and very high levels of bedbug infestation respectively while in A hall, it was 21.4%, 30.5%, 24.4%, 14.5% and 9.2% respectively. In A hall, 4.6%, 16.8% and 0.8% had one, two and three out of the four mattresses in the room infested with bedbugs respectively while 56.5% had all the four mattresses infested with bedbugs. In B hall, 1.6%, 16.0% and 0% had one, two and three mattresses infested with bedbugs respectively while the remaining 52.7% had all the four mattresses in the room infested with bedbugs. There was a significant relationship between the level of infestation and the number of mattresses infested in each hall (P < 0.01).The protein profile analysis of bedbugs did not show the protein bands clearly because of the low soluble protein content of Cimex hemipterus and the detection limit of Coomassie stain.