A Case Study of Bedbug Infestation in the Student Dormitories of Iran-2018

Abstract

Introduction: The bedbug bites is one of the most important health problems in human places, especially college dormitories. Risks related to bedbugs include insomnia, itchy bites, skin oedema, anaemia, stress and economic losses. The potential for severe contact to pesticides was used for bedbug control. Aim: To identify college dormitories that were infested by bedbug, prevent them from spreading to other dormitories and minimise the bite of the pest, which was possible by designing a comprehensive guideline. Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive and analytic study, done in 2018 year (Apr to Jun) in student dormitories infested with bedbugs in Iran. Bedbugs alive were caught from 25 rooms of 100 rooms in dormitories by applying the sticky traps, vacuum cleaner, and forceps. The rooms were leveled according to the severity infested to bedbug, including high (>5 bedbugs), medium (3-4 bedbugs) and low levels (1-2 bedbugs). A questionnaire was designed on student demographic questions and information about behavioural bedbug to manage the control bedbug in the dormitory (MCBBD-Q). For validation of the questionnaire, Cronbach’s alpha was used with a coefficient of 0.7. To determine the consistency of the questionnaire, a test-retest method was used. The questionnaire was completed for 100 students and returned to them after 14 days. Three methods were used (I,II,III): applying only Insecticides, applying Insecticides and changing mattress and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) including: Replace mattress, Heat up, washing dress, checking suitcase, apply Naphthalene, Vaccum cleaner and Use glass wool) methods. Data was analysed by using SPSS 20 software and statistical Chi-Square test and one-way ANOVA. Results: Eighty bedbugs were caught from 25 rooms of 100 rooms. A total of 52% students were male and 48% were female. In total more than 80% of students didn’t have information about the biology of bedbug. A significant difference was found by comparing three methods (I-III) in bedbug eradication after 7 days (F=2.60; df=4, 20; p=0.06), 14 days (F=6.27; df=2, 22; p-value=0.07) and 24 days (F=7.65, df=1, 23; p-value=0.01). There was also a significant difference in the effectiveness of the used control methods (p<0.05). The eradication rate of the bedbugs through the three methods (I-III) was 25, 75 and 100%, 24 days after using control methods, respectively. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it is recommended 1) To prevent the entry of the bedbug into the dormitory, it is necessary to check student's suitcase out of rooms, cover the mattress, use of standard bed for students, cleaning the room twice a week with a vacuum cleaner. 2) It is better to use the IPM method to control the bedbug in college dormitories.

Keywords

• cimex hemipterus
• chemical method
• non-chemical method
• pest