Cockroach

 



Relevant Background: "Cockroaches (or roaches[1][2][3]) are insects belonging to the order Blattodea (Blattaria). About 30 cockroach species out of 4,600 are associated with human habitats. Some species are well-known pests....Modern cockroaches are an ancient group that first appeared during the Late Jurassic, with their ancestors, known as "roachoids", likely originating during the Carboniferous period around 320 million years ago. Those early ancestors, however, lacked the internal ovipositors of modern roaches. Cockroaches are somewhat generalized insects lacking special adaptations (such as the sucking mouthparts of aphids and other true bugs); they have chewing mouthparts and are probably among the most primitive of living Neopteran insects. They are common and hardy insects capable of tolerating a wide range of climates, from Arctic cold to tropical heat. Tropical cockroaches are often much larger than temperate species....Cockroaches are social insects; a large number of species are either gregarious or inclined to aggregate, and a slightly smaller number exhibit parental care.[37] It used to be thought that cockroaches aggregated because they were reacting to environmental cues, but it is now believed that pheromones are involved in these behaviors...Gregarious cockroaches display collective decision-making when choosing food sources. When a sufficient number of individuals (a "quorum") exploits a food source, this signals to newcomer cockroaches that they should stay there longer rather than leave for elsewhere.[42] Other mathematical models have been developed to explain aggregation dynamics and conspecific recognition...Cooperation and competition are balanced in cockroach group decision-making behavior...Cockroaches appear to use just two pieces of information to decide where to go, namely how dark it is and how many other cockroaches there are. A study used specially scented roach-sized robots that seem real to the roaches to demonstrate that once there are enough insects in a place to form a critical mass, the roaches accepted the collective decision on where to hide, even if this was an unusually lit place...Cockroaches are among the hardiest insects. Some species are capable of remaining active for a month without food and are able to survive on limited resources, such as the glue from the back of postage stamps.[63] Some can go without air for 45 minutes. Japanese cockroach (Crescispina japonica) nymphs, which hibernate in cold winters, have survived twelve hours at −5 to −8 °C (23 to 18 °F) in laboratory experiments....Experiments on decapitated specimens of several species of cockroach found a variety of behavioral functionality remained, including shock avoidance and escape behavior, although many insects other than cockroaches are also able to survive decapitation. Popular claims of the longevity of headless cockroaches do not appear to be based on published research.[65][66] The severed head is able to survive and wave its antennae for several hours, or longer when refrigerated and given nutrients...It is popularly suggested that cockroaches will "inherit the Earth" if humanity destroys itself in a nuclear war. While cockroaches do, indeed, have a much higher radiation resistance than vertebrates, with a lethal dose perhaps six to 15 times that for humans, they are not exceptionally radiation-resistant compared to other insects, such as the fruit fly....Because of their ease of rearing and resilience, cockroaches have been used as insect models in the laboratory, particularly in the fields of neurobiologyreproductive physiology and social behavior.[37] The cockroach is a convenient insect to study as it is large and simple to raise in a laboratory environment. This makes it suitable both for research and for school and undergraduate biology studies..Pest cockroaches feed on human and pet food and can leave an offensive odor.[74] They can passively transport pathogenic microbes on their body surfaces, particularly in environments such as hospitals.[75][76] Cockroaches are linked with allergic reactions in humans.[77][78] One of the proteins that trigger allergic reactions is tropomyosin, which can cause cross-reactive allergy to dust mites and shrimp.[79] These allergens are also linked with asthma.[80] Some species of cockroach can live for up to a month without food, so just because no cockroaches are visible in a home does not mean that they are not there. Approximately 20–48% of homes with no visible sign of cockroaches have detectable cockroach allergens in dust...Many remedies have been tried in the search for control of the major pest species of cockroaches, which are resilient and fast-breeding. Household chemicals like sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) have been suggested, without evidence for their effectiveness.[82] Garden herbs including bay, catnip, mint, cucumber, and garlic have been proposed as repellents.[83] Poisoned bait containing hydramethylnon or fipronil, and boric acid powder is effective on adults.[84] Baits with egg killers are also quite effective at reducing the cockroach population. Alternatively, insecticides containing deltamethrin or pyrethrin are very effective.[84] In Singapore and Malaysia, taxi drivers use pandan leaves to repel cockroaches in their vehicles.[85] Natural methods of cockroach control have been advanced by several published studies[86] especially by Metarhizium robertsii (syn. M. anisopliae).....A study conducted by scientists at Purdue University concluded that the most common cockroaches in the US, Australia and Europe were able to develop a "cross resistance" to multiple types of pesticide. This contradicted previous understanding that the animals can develop resistance against one pesticide at a time.[98] The scientists suggested that cockroaches will no longer be easily controlled using a diverse spectrum of chemical pesticides and that a mix of other means, such as traps and better sanitation, will need to be employed..Although considered disgusting in Western culture, cockroaches are eaten in many places around the world.[100][101] Whereas household pest cockroaches may carry bacteria and viruses, cockroaches bred under laboratory conditions can be used to prepare nutritious food.[102] In Thailand and Mexico, the heads and legs are removed, and the remainder may be boiled, sautéed, grilled, dried, or diced.[100] Frying makes the insect crispy with soft innards that taste like cottage cheese.[103][104] Recipes from Taiwan also call for its use in omelets.[105][106] It can be a feeder insect for pet reptiles...Cockroaches are raised in large quantities in China for the production of traditional medicine and cosmetics.[107] There are about 100 cockroach farms in the country. Running a farm involves relatively low starting and operating costs due to how hardy and easy to process the insects are. Chinese and South Korean researchers are investigating cockroaches for treating baldness, AIDS, cancer, and as a dietary supplement" (Cockroach - Wikipedia)

*** 

Relevant Material: "Food is an important vehicle for the transmission of infectious pathogens to humans. The high incidence of food-borne diseases coupled with the emergence and re-emergence of food-borne pathogens, have placed food safety high on the agenda of public health issues. Cockroaches appear to be suitable mechanical transmitters for a wide range of food-borne pathogenic microorganisms due to their filthy behaviour and occurrence in places where food is stored or handled., Microorganisms may be carried externally on the cuticle of cockroaches,, or may be ingested and then later excreted or regurgitated., In this way, cockroaches can easily contaminate food when they come into contact with it. Although there exist about 4000 species of cockroaches, only 30 are associated with human habitations. The most common cockroach species found in human habitations or environments are Periplaneta Americana, Blattella germanica, Blatta orientalis, Periplaneta australasiae, and Supella longipalpa. Generally, the role of cockroaches in human infections is poorly understood and has been an issue of debate for several years. In the last 2 decades, there has been an accumulation of adequate research data that contributes significantly to our understanding of this subject. In this regard, the scientific community could benefit from a review of available research data that can provide a global understanding of the role of cockroaches in transmission of human infections. Therefore, in this review article, the author aims to elucidate the possible role of cockroaches in the transmission of food-borne pathogens by reviewing the relevant research publications.

Brief Overview of Food-borne Infections

The World Health Organization estimates that food-borne diseases cause about 600 million illness episodes, 420 000 deaths and 33 million healthy life years lost (disability-adjusted life years, DALYs) annually. Food-borne disease is most prevalent in Africa and South-East Asia, where more than a third of all food-borne illness occurs. Food-borne pathogens account for the vast majority of food-borne diseases, and diarrhoeal agents are responsible for more than half of the global burden of food-borne infections., Although all human beings are at risk, the impact of food-borne infections is most severe in very young and elderly people, as well as immune-compromised individuals. Food-borne illness is associated with huge economic costs. For example, in the United States, food-borne illnesses cost the economy between US$10 and US$83 billion. In Australia, the cost of food-borne illness has been estimated at US$1.289 billion per year, whereas in New Zealand, it costs US$86 million. The cost of food-borne illness in Sweden was estimated to be as high as US$171 million. Generally, data on the financial costs of food-borne illness in the developing world are lacking, though the majority of food-borne cases occur in these countries..." (Cockroaches and Food-borne Pathogens - PMC)

**

Relevant Insurance Coverage: Note: Many if not all Insurance companies do not provide Insurance coverage against damage caused by insects or pests

a) Travel & Health 

b) Life Insurance 

** 



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Rhino Termite

Macrotermes Bellicosus

Reticulitermes