Tuesday, December 12, 2006
D0317

Species-specific and cross-reactive allergens of the Madagascar hissing-cockroach

Marjorie S. Morgan, marjorie.morgan@wright.edu1, Larry G. Arlian, larry.arlian@wright.edu1, Jonathan A. Bernstein, BERNSTJA@UCMAIL.UC.EDU2, and Jay A. Yoder, jyoder@wittenberg.edu3. (1) Wright State University, Department of Biological Sciences, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy, Dayton, OH, (2) University of Cincinnati, Department of Internal Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, (3) Wittenberg University, Department of Biology, Springfield, OH

The Madagascar hissing-cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) has become very popular as a pet and as an educational tool in classrooms, zoos, and museums. These cockroaches are large (5 – 10 cm), wingless, gentle and docile which makes them easy to handle. They are available from pet stores and biological suppliers and numerous websites describe their care and outline educational activities for students. Children are exposed to the cockroaches and their products as the children handle and care for them and could become sensitized to any allergenic proteins that they produce. The objective of this study was to determine if proteins in G. portentosa are allergens and to determine if any of these allergens cross-react with those of other common cockroach species.


Species 1: BLATTODEA Blattidae Gromphadorhina portentosa (Madagascar hissing cockroach)
Species 2: BLATTODEA Blattidae Periplaneta americana (American cockroach)
Species 3: BLATTODEA Blattellidae Blattella germanica (German cockroach)