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

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

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*

INTRODUCTION: Recent investigations have demonstrated that citrus red mite is a common sensitizing allergen in children and adults living in rural areas of Cheju island. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the sensitization rate to the citrus red mite and to determine the risk factors for this sensitization in adolescents living in rural areas of Cheju island. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 3,395 adolescents (from ages 13 to 15 years old) living in rural areas of Cheju island were enrolled in this study. Each subject was evaluated by a modified ISAAC questionnaire, and a skin prick test with 11 common inhalant allergens including citrus red mite. RESULTS: On skin prick test the most common sensitizing allergen was D. pteronyssinus (27.9%), followed by D. farinae (23.9%), citrus red mite (18.3%), and cockroach (16.7%). Sensitization rate to citrus red mite was higher in those living near citrus orchards than in those living far from the orchards, and higher in those visiting citrus orchards more frequently than in those visiting less frequently. CONCLUSION: Citrus red mite is a common sensitizing allergen in adolescents living in rural areas of Cheju island. The sensitization rate to citrus red mite may be partially determined by environ- mental exposure.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Allergens ; Child ; Citrus* ; Cockroaches ; Humans ; Jeju-do* ; Mites* ; Risk Factors* ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

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

The impact of indoor allergens is greater than that of outdoor or occupational environments. Cockroaches have been demonstrated to be an etiologic factor in allergic diseases, especially in patients with lower socioeconomic classes in large urban areas. Infestations of cockroaches are largely dependent on housing conditions, and hypersensitivity is dependent on exposure. We herein report a 38-year-old man with factitious urticaria revealed strong positive reactions to crude extracts of American cockroach and German cockroach at a skin pinprick test and Western blot analysis.
Adult ; Allergens ; Blattellidae ; Blotting, Western ; Cockroaches* ; Complex Mixtures ; Housing ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Periplaneta ; Skin ; Urticaria*