BACKGROUND Cockroaches are of vital importance medically and hygienically as they can disperse human pathogenic agents and are especially responsible for food contamination and spreading of food borne pathogens. In this study, part of mtDNA-COI gene of five common pest cockroaches was tested for diagnostic and phylogenetic purposes. METHODS We have described barcode region of mtDNA-COI gene o...

OBJECTIVE We calculated the population attributable fraction (PAF) of Canadian childhood asthma due to modifiable environmental exposures, in order to estimate their relative contributions to asthma development based on the current literature. METHODS We conducted a systematic review to determine Canadian childhood asthma incidence, Canadian prevalence of exposure to airborne pollutants and i...

Proteins were extracted from the cuticle of mid-instar nymphs of locusts, Locusta migratoria, and cockroaches, Blaberus craniifer. Seven proteins were purified from the locust extract and five from the cockroach extract, and their amino acid sequences were determined. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that the proteins are present only in the post-ecdysially deposited layer of the ny...

Home exposures to aeroallergens are an important environmental factor in allergic sensitization and in the development and exacerbation of asthma. We assessed variations in home concentrations of dust mite, cockroach, cat, and dog allergens in dust collected in the main living areas of asthmatics' homes by family income, mother's education, dwelling type, population density, household populatio...

BACKGROUND It has been hypothesized that asthma-related health problems are most severe among children in inner-city areas who are allergic to a specific allergen and also exposed to high levels of that allergen in bedroom dust. METHODS From November 1992 through October 1993, we recruited 476 children with asthma (age, four to nine years) from eight inner-city areas in the United States. Imm...

Cockroach antennae have been extensively used for studying the multifunctional sensory appendage that generates the olfactory, gustatory, tactile, thermal, and humidity senses. Of the variety of senses, the tactile sense is thought to play a key role for perceiving physical objects. Because most cockroach species are nocturnal, the tactile sense of the antenna would be essential to determine th...

The long-term costs and efÞcacy of two treatment methodologies for German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), control were compared in the public housing environment. The “traditional” treatment forGermancockroaches consistedofmonthlybaseboard andcrack andcrevice treatment (TBCC) by using spray and dust formulation insecticides. The integrated pestmanagement treatment (IPM) involved initial va...