Laboratory Experience with the Microscopic Method for the Detection of Insects in Poultry Feeds

INTRODUCTION: The use of insects and their processed animal proteins (PAPs) for animal nutrition creates the need for research into methods useful for routine surveillance for their presence. The aim of this study was to evaluate a modified microscopic method for the detection of particles of insects in poultry feed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 90 samples including PAP of insects (Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor), poultry feeds produced with different levels (0–27%) of insect PAP content, and other poultry feeds spiked with insect PAP at 1% were investigated using a modified microscopic method with a double sedimentation protocol. RESULTS: Characteristic features of insects including cuticulae, muscles, bristles and tracheoles were determined in the microscopic images obtained. In all spiked samples, characteristic fragments of insects were detected. The fragments of muscle and tracheoles only indicated the presence of material from members of the insect class but could not facilitate identification of organisms to species level. CONCLUSION: The results obtained with this double sedimentation protocol for the isolation of insect PAP from feed for poultry have shown that the method can be used in routine analysis.