Abstract

Studies of arthropods have fundamental importance to identifying both ant species and microorganisms they carry. The objective of this study was to identify ant morph species found in residences, characterize the bacteria associated with the ants, assess bacterial resistance to antibiotics and analyze the plasmid profiles of the microorganisms found. The ant collections were carried out in the kitchens of 50 residences in the daytime. The bacteria were quantified and the samples were confirmed for the presence of plasmids. The data demonstrate that Pheidole sp. (74%) was the most frequent ant among those isolated; the microbiology analysis showed that the genus Sthaphyloccocus sp. (90%) was the most prevalent bacterial genus found on ants. This research presented a low frequency of Klebsiella sp. (2%), Enterococcus sp. (2%) and Vibrio cholera (2%). The ants classified as Pheidole sp. and Paratrechina sp. showed greater presence of microorganisms in the ants’ cuticule, and Pheidole sp. was prevalent in relation to other ant species. Resistance was found to the antibiotics ampicillin, erythromycin and penicillin. Since there was no plasmid in the samples, it can be suggested that this tolerance is of chromosomal bacterial origin.

Key words: Antimicrobial, ants, contamination vector, resistance.