SPATIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION OF GERMAN COCKROACHES (BLATTARIA: BLATTELLIDAE) AND ALLERGENS USING POLYCLONAL DETECTION ASSAYS AND PRECISION TARGETING SOFTWARE

Abstract:
Preliminary studies in experimental structures at Agricultural Research Service in Gainesville resulted in the development of a rabbit-anti-cockroach polyclonal ELISA inhibition system for assessing spatial distribution of cockroach antigens for subsequent mitigation interventions. The system was tested in homes of adolescent asthmatics selected because of a history of cockroach infestation. The goal was to determine the impact of pest mitigation and professional cleaning on antigen load. Data were collected via pentablet using a customized hardware and software system. German cockroach distributions were determined using sticky traps. Spatial analysis was used to determine distributions for each floor of two homes. About 50 environmental samples were taken from each floor of each home, and assays were referenced to standards. Cockroaches were removed and baits were applied. Antigen levels in the home without current infestation were below 150 cockroach-hr equivalents (c-h equiv); no recent asthmatic episodes were reported, and no intervention was conducted. In the infested home, antigen assays revealed values as high as 2200 c-h equiv; approximately 85% of the estimated antigen load was contained in less than 30% of the floor space. Post cleaning assays revealed areas where antigen load had decreased, and other areas where antigen load had increased. Levels in the carpet were reduced while those on non-floor hard surfaces were unchanged or higher, suggesting that improper rinsing of cleaning rags redistributed antigens. Variability in results among assay technicians and laboratories was negligible. We conclude that the antigen detection system allowed rigorous characterization of antigen loads, and that a standardized cleaning system could be developed and verified for efficacy.