No abstract available.
Cockroaches*

Common insecticides were tested in Laboratory of Insecticide, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in order to select the highest efficacy of insecticides which remained susceptible in killing cockroach in train’s carriages. The study results showed that the number of collected cockroach populations reduced sharply at different time spans of 2 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after spraying
Insecticides ; Cockroaches

No abstract available.
Child* ; Cockroaches* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity*

A field trial on the control effect of fipronil poison bait against German cockroaches (Blatella germanica) was carried out at different restaurant types in Sinchon, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Monitoring was performed applying food baited traps for 2 days per week. Reduction rates of German cockroaches by applying fipronil baits were 90.9% at Korean restaurants, 96.4% at Chinese restaurants, and 89.4% in beer hall kitchens after 4 weeks of the treatment. Overall average of the reduction rate was 93.9%. As the natural reduction rate at untreated restaurants was 11.5% after 4 weeks, a correction of the average reduction rate by applying the Abbot formula was 93.1%.
*Pyrazoles ; *Insecticides ; Insect Control/*methods ; *Cockroaches ; Animals

BACKGROUND: Skin prick test has been the primary diagnostic tool used to recognize causative allergens, and there is some evidence that skin reactivity to allergens can be altered by changes in the environment. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to evaluate whether there are changes in skin reactivity to inhalant allergens among patients with bronchial asthma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We reviewed the skin prick test results of 384 bronchial asthmatics tested in the early 1990s (June 1992-May 1994) with 52 common inhalant allergens and compared the results of 500 asthmatics tested in the mid 1980s (Jan 1984 - May 1987) with the same kinds of allergens provided by the same manufacturer. RESULTS: Of the 384 subjects tested in the early 1990s, 276 subjects(71.9%) had positive reaction to one or more inhalant allergens and the positive rate was not different from that of the mid 1980s(74%). But, skin reactivity to pollens was significantly increased. In individual allergens, house dust mite(D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus) was the most reactive allergen (52.3%, 43.2% respectively) in the early 1990s. Significant differences in skin reactivity to ragweed (10.0% vs 22.1%, p<0.05) and cockroach (12.7% vs 25.0%, p<0.05) were found when the results of the 1980s and the 1990s were compared. CONCLUSION: House dust mite was the most important allergen in asthmatics from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. There was increased sensitization to cockroach and ragweed allergen in the early 1990s. Further prospective immunologic and environmental studies are recommended for proper interpretation of the changes in skin reactivity.
Allergens* ; Ambrosia ; Asthma ; Cockroaches ; Dust ; Humans ; Pollen ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin*

PURPOSE: The cockroach (CR) is an important cause of respiratory allergic disorders. We prepared a German CR extract in a standardized way and analyzed its allergenic properties. METHODS: The extract was prepared from German CR (Blattella germanica) obtained from a Korean colony, and its allergenic activity was compared with that of the commercial Hollister-Stier (HS) extract. The concentrations of Bla g 1 and Bla g 2 were measured, and an in vitro specific IgE binding inhibition assay was performed to assess IgE reactivity. Proteolytic activity was examined by gelatin zymography. RESULTS: Bla g 1 and Bla g 2 were detected at 405 U/mg and 273 ng/mg, respectively, in the Korean extract, and at 187 U/mg and 56 ng/mg, respectively, in the HS extract. The Korean extract showed 94.2% inhibition of IgE reactivity, as compared with the HS extract. A similar pattern of IgE-reactive bands was detected for the two extracts, indicating that their allergenic components are similar. The proteolytic activities of the Korean and HS extracts were found to be similar in gelatin zymography. The endotoxin levels in the Korean and HS extracts were 3,440 EU/mL and 6,580 EU/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The German CR extract was prepared in a standardized way. The extract produced in this study will be useful for the development of allergy diagnostics and immunotherapeutic agents.
Allergens ; Blattellidae ; Cockroaches ; Gelatin ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Korea

BACKGROUND: Although many recent reports have suggested an important role of cockroach in atopic dermatitis, little is known about the relationship between cockroach hypersensitivity and environmental factors. OBJECT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations with cockroach hypersensitivity and environmental factors in patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: We performed a prick test on 100 patients with atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma and 30 controls with cockroach crude extract(German cockroach, American cockroach, body, egg, feces). Detailed history about various environmental factors were taken. RESULTS: There were significant increases in the positive prick test results in atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma groups compared with the control group. The positive prick test results were variable according to each environmental factor(residence type, family income, experience in looking cockroach, and exertion for extermination). CONCLUSION: The higher positive prick test results of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma in this study suggest a role of immediate allergic reactions to cockroach antigen. Different prick test results according to each environment could imply that environmental factors have important effects on the development of cockroach hypersensitivity. Positive prick test results with cockroach crude extract were specially high in the group that does not live in the apartment.
Asthma ; Cockroaches* ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Ovum ; Periplaneta ; Rhinitis

PURPOSE: Home exposure to aeroallergens are an important environmental factor in allergic sensitization and in the development and exacerbation of asthma. Most studies of aeroallergens were dust mite in Korea, but cockroach distribution was little been known in Korea. The aim of this study was to evaluate species of cockroaches and seasonal distribution of cockroaches in Seoul area. METHODS: The study was performed during April 2000 through January 2001, from 63 houses in Korea. The total of 63 residential homes from different districts in Seoul were selected for the home environment survey. Bait traps (10 x 20 x 4 cm2, Zoro Zoro, Taisho Pharmacy, Tokyo, Japan) were placed on four different places of kitchen floor and one in the side of balcony in the house and left for 5 days to capture cockroaches. RESULTS: The cockroaches were captured in 23 houses(36.5%) out of 63 houses. And the inhabitant density of cockroaches was highest in the autumn(43.3%) followed by summer (29.2%), spring(18.3%) and winter(9.2%). In only 3 species were collected in Seoul area. The most common species were Blattella germanica showing 72.5% of the collected cockroaches, followed by Periplaneta japonica(25.2%) Periplaneta americana(2.3%). The total number of captured cockroaches was 504 and the number of nymph was 314(62.2%). Isolated house type showed higher trapping rates than the apartment. Positive skin test rates were 46.2% in the healthy control group and 43.8% in the allergy patients. CONCLUSION: Periplaneta americana was captured in Seoul area, which had not been found previously. The inhabitant density of cockroaches was the lowest in the winter.
Allergens* ; Asthma ; Cockroaches* ; Dust ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Mites ; Nymph ; Periplaneta ; Pharmacy ; Seasons* ; Seoul* ; Skin Tests

BACKGROUND: Cockroaches are important components of house dust allergens. In spite of significant subject reactivity to cockroach extracts, the specific source of the allergen remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to identify the important allergens in German cockroach whole body (GWBE), egg (GEE) and fecal (GFE) extracts in Korean atopy, and to compare the reactivity of GWBE and GEE by Western blot inhibition. METHODS: Sera from 11 subjects with Korean atopy were used for sodium dodecil sulfate polyacrylamide gel elctrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Allergenic fractions in German cockroach extracts were numerous and distributed throughout the wide range of molecular weights. The important allergens of GWBE, GFE and GEE were similar to each other by using SDS-PAGE and Western blot ysis. The aUergen bands at 55 kd showed the most significant reactivity; in GWBE, GFE and GEE 73%, 82%, 55%, respectively. Other bands exhibiting significant activity were the 67 kd band with 37%, 19% and 19%, the 64 kd band with 64%, 37% and 9% respectively. Furthermore, Western blot inhibition investigations revealed that either GWBE or GEE could almost completely inhibit the reactivity of the other extract. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the 55 kd allergen can be considered as the major allergen in Korean atopy and demonstrated that the GWBE and GEE antigens have identical IgE-binding sites.
Allergens* ; Blattellidae* ; Blotting, Western* ; Cockroaches ; Dust ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Molecular Weight ; Ovum ; Sodium

The allergic skin test and RAST are used commonly to demonstrate the presence of skin sensitizing IgE antibody in the diagnosis of allergic disease. To evaluate the agreement rate and correlation between results of skin test and RAST (radioallergosorbent test) in allergic subject, 83 allergic childhood with positive skin test (bronchial asthma: 26, allergic rhinitis: 27, atopic dermatitis and urticaria: 6 bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis: 24) and 16 nonallergic childhood were studied. The results were as follows. 1) Peripheral eosinophil counts were significantly elevated in groups with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma & allergic rhinitis except atopic dermatitis & urticaria group in comparison with normal control group. 2) Serum IgE levels were significantly higher in groups with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma & allergic rhinitis than in normal control group except atopic dermatitis & urticaria group but there was no significant differences among study groups. 3) RAST units of D.p and D.f were significantly higher in study group except atopic dermatitis & urticaria group. RAST units of cockroach, however, were not significantly increased but in D.f, combined group of bronchial asthma & allergic rhinitis was significantly higher than bronchial asthma or allergic rhinits (p<0.05). 4) Each agreement rate between 3+ skin test and positive rate of RAST in D.p, D.f, cockroach was 37.5%, 63.6% and 12.5% respectively and 4+ skin test and positive rate of RAST was 84.0%, 89.1% and 38.4%. 5) Correlation coefficient between skin test and RAST was 0.71 in D.P, 0.59 in D.f and 0.23 in cockroach. In conclusion, there was difference in agreement rate between positive skin test and RAST to each allergen. Agreement rate between positive skin test and RAST was higher in D.p and D.f. These results suggest that RAST can be used simultaneously with skin test for detecting allergens.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Cockroaches ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Rhinitis ; Skin Tests* ; Skin* ; Urticaria