Household factors influencing cockroach infestations and helminth parasites: Insights from a rural community in Guatemala.

ABSTRACT: Cockroaches are vectors of pathogens and parasites that pose public health risks, especially in developing countries with poor hygiene and inadequate infrastructure. This study aimed to identify the household factors associated with the occurrence of cockroaches and the helminth parasites they carry in a rural community. Data on household infrastructure, presence of domestic animals, and insect control methods were collected from 70 households in rural Guatemala. Cockroaches were captured using traps and manually. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model revealed that households with concrete roofs had 94% lower abundance of cockroaches than those with metal sheet roofs, while the presence of cats increased cockroach abundance by 2.6 times (p < 0.05). Six genera of helminths, including the acantho

SUBMITTER: Hernandez-Mazariegos WC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12788667 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature