Fragment detection of Coleopteran and Triatomine insects in experimentally contaminated acai pulp and sugarcane juice

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Oral transmission of acute Chagas disease is an emerging public health concern. This study aimed to detect insect fragments in experimentally contaminated food, by comparing triatomines with other insects. METHODS Food samples were experimentally contaminated with insects, processed to recover their fragments by light filth, and analyzed by microscopy and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Morphological differences between coleopteran and triatomine insects were observed in microscopic images. PCR was efficient in amplifying Triatominae DNA in the experimentally contaminated food. CONCLUSIONS: This methodology could be utilized by food analysts to identify possible insect contamination in food samples.

摘要与引言：急性恰加斯病（Chagas disease）经口传播是一类新兴的公共卫生问题。本研究通过对比锥蝽（triatomine）与其他昆虫，旨在检测实验污染食品中的昆虫残片。
方法：以昆虫对食品样本进行实验污染，采用轻污物检测法（light filth）处理样本以回收其中的昆虫残片，随后通过显微镜观察与聚合酶链式反应（PCR）开展分析。
结果：显微图像中可观察到鞘翅目昆虫（coleopteran）与锥蝽之间的形态差异；聚合酶链式反应可有效扩增实验污染食品中的锥蝽亚科（Triatominae）DNA。
结论：该方法可供食品检测人员鉴定食品样本中潜在的昆虫污染。