Sub-lethal exposure of cockroaches to boric acid pesticide contributes to increased Bla g 2 excretion.
BACKGROUND
Several epidemiology studies have found an increase in the major cockroach allergen Bla g 2 with reported pesticide use.


OBJECTIVE
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.
Zhang
Y C
YC
Department of Environmental Health Science, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA.
Perzanowski
M S
MS
Chew
G L
GL
D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D001888:Boric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001888:Boric Acids; D007306:Insecticides; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C094699:allergen Bla g 2; C032688:boric acid