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Sub‐lethal exposure of cockroaches to boric acid pesticide contributes to increased Bla g 2 excretion
Author(s) -
Zhang Y. C.,
Perzanowski M. S.,
Chew G. L.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2005.00814.x
Subject(s) - cockroach , boric acid , pesticide , feces , excretion , german cockroach , toxicology , toxicity , dictyoptera , chemistry , biology , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , agronomy , ecology , organic chemistry
Background: Several epidemiology studies have found an increase in the major cockroach allergen Bla g 2 with reported pesticide use. Aims of the study: Our aim was to investigate the effect on the excretion of Bla g 1 and Bla g 2 allergens by cockroaches exposed to sub‐lethal doses of the pesticides, boric acid and hydramethylnon gel. Methods: German cockroaches in separate colonies were fed either boric acid or hydramethylnon gel at concentrations of 0.2, 0.1 and 0.01% in their water supply over a 2 week period. Ten colonies were exposed to each treatment concentration. Bla g 1 and Bla g 2 in fecal pellets were measured by ELISA. Results: Cockroaches exposed to boric acid excreted fecal pellets with significantly higher concentrations of Bla g 2 (35 400 U/g) than did controls (12 700 U/g) ( P = 0.001). Bla g 1 concentrations were not significantly different. There was no difference in either Bla g 1 or Bla g 2 concentrations between cockroaches that ingested hydramethylnon gel and those in the controls colonies. Conclusions: The application of boric acid, a common pesticide, appears to paradoxically increase the production of Bla g 2, a major allergen, by the surviving cockroaches. This may have important implications in avoidance strategies.