German Cockroach Allergen Levels in North Carolina Schools: Comparison of Integrated Pest Management and Conventional Cockroach Control

Cockroach suppression is fundamental to cockroach allergen mitigation in infested homes. The effects Of various cockroach control strategies oil cockroach population allergen concentration have not been examined ill schools. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) and conventional pest control in controlling German cock-roach (Blattella germanica L.) infestations and concentrations of the cockroach allergen Bla g 1 I ill public school buildings. Two school districts included six schools that used conventional pest control and one district included seven schools that used IPM to control pests. Cockroach traps were deployed to assess the level of infestation settled dust samples were collected in food service areas. classrooms, and other school areas, and the Bla I allergen was quantified by ELISA. Both cockroach counts and Bla g.1 concentrations were dependent on the pest control approach, with highly significant differ(,awes between IPM-treated schools and conventionally treated schools ill both the cockroach mean trap counts (0 versus 82.6 +/- 17.3 cockroaches/trap/wk. respectively) and in the amount of Bla g 1 in dust samples (2.8 +/- 0.3 versus 30.6 +/- 3.4 U/g dust). Cockroaches and Blag I were primarily associated with food preparation and food service areas and much less with classrooms and offices. Our data extend recent findings from studies ill homes. showing that cockroach allergens can be reduced by cockroach elimination alone or by integrating several tactics including education, cleaning, and pest control. IPM is not only effective at controlling cockroaches but also Call lead to long-term reductions ill cockroach allergen concentrations, resulting in a healthier environment for students and school personal.