Detection of exotic Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium, in dust samples collected from shipping containers in Australia
Dr Foyez Shams1, Jennifer Soroka1, Dr Doug Beattie1, Professor Dianne Gleeson1, Dr Alejandro Trujillo-González1
1University Of Canberra, ,
Abstract:
Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) poses a prominent biosecurity risk to Australia, where a widespread incursion could cost the country $15.5 billion over 20 years. Environmental DNA (eDNA) and RNA (eRNA)-based methods could offer non-invasive, sensitive detection tools to inform biosecurity officers on the presence of high-risk pests across the biosecurity continuum. Khapra beetle has been detected as a contaminant pest on imported goods such as furniture, household appliances and associated packaging imported to Australia via shipping containers. This study used two Real Time PCR TaqMan assays to detect khapra beetle environmental DNA/RNA in dust samples collected from shipping containers arriving to Australia. A total of 2199 dust samples were collected from shipping containers arriving at an empty shipping container park during May-August of 2021. These containers were not subject to biosecurity conditions and were selected randomly for sampling on a daily basis by staff at the site. Dust samples were then shipped to the University of Canberra to be processed and tested for khapra beetle eDNA/RNA. As of September 2021, a total of 1475 dust samples have been tested for khapra beetle eDNA/RNA, of which 133 samples (9.02%) showed positive detection for eDNA and 14 (0.94%) tested positive for eDNA/RNA. Two shipping containers with positive eDNA/RNA results were recommended to undergo further examination and were confirmed to contain either live khapra beetle specimens or khapra beetle larvae skins. This study shows how eDNA/RNA-based detection could improve detection of priority pests in future Australian biosecurity responses.
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