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*

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: 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:Recent studies have attempted to document the correlation of an atopy patch test (APT) and a skin prick test. The results have suggested a possible role of delayed allergic reaction in the development of eczematous skin lesions in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of APT with skin prick test and specific IgE for cockroach antigen. And we attempted to find the optimal vehicle and concentration of APT for cockroach allergy in AD patient. METHODS: We performed APTs in 50 patients with AD with using German cockroach allergens (the extract with different concentrations and vehicles). The reactions were evaluated after 48 hours, and these were compared with the results of the skin prick test and the total and specific IgE levels. RESULTS: The AD patients who had cockroach allergy, according to a skin prick test or the specific IgE level, showed higher positive APT reactionsthan the non-allergic patients to cockroach. The APT reactions showed a significant relationship with the skin prick test and the specific IgE level (85.7%). With regard to the form of cockroach antigen, a positive APT was more frequent with using the powder form that with using the extract. Regarding the vehicle, petrolatum induced higher positive APT reactions than did distilled water. There was a close relationship between the antigen concentration in petrolatum base and a positive APT reaction. Ten and fifty percent cockroach antigen elicited positive APT reactions than did 1% cockroach antigen with using a petrolatum base. CONCLUSION: Petrolatum is an optimal vehicle for an APT for cockroach because an APT with a petrolatum base revealed the highest correlation with cockroach allergy. The dose-response relationship between antigen concentration and the frequencies of positive APT reactions demonstrated that 10% and 50% cockroach antigen is superior to 1% cockroach antigen.
Allergens ; Blattellidae ; Cockroaches ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dimaprit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Patch Tests ; Petrolatum ; Skin ; Water

Allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy in Korea rely mostly on imported allergen extracts. However, some allergens that are not important in Western countries are not commercially available, and even the same species of allergen source often displays differences in allergenicity due to amino acid sequence polymorphisms. Therefore, it is essential to prepare allergen extracts that reflect regional characteristics. Allergen standardization has been performed since 2009 with the support of the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Here, we summarize the current status of allergen standardization, focusing on the house dust mite and cockroach. Pollen allergens that are under investigation are also briefly described.
Allergens ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Cockroaches ; Diagnosis ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunotherapy ; Korea ; Pollen ; Pyroglyphidae

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