Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Allergy: Popular Insect Hosts a Troublesome Mold

[findi]

Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career spent at several zoos, aquariums, and museums, including over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo.
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Grompadorhina portentosa) are extremely popular as pets, classroom animals and reptile food. Recent studies at Ohio State University have revealed a darker side to these otherwise harmless insects…their bodies and wastes are colonized by 14 mold species, several of which can cause allergic reactions and secondary infections. I’ve worked with huge colonies of these and other feeder insects in zoos, and coworkers seem to have developed allergies to crickets, but I have not heard of similar reports concerning roaches. As of now, precautions rather than outright avoidance of Hissing Roaches are being advised. Read the rest of this article here Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Allergy: Mold Issues | That Reptile Blog [FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with: That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog

Best Regards, Frank

 

[Betrisher]

Now that's interesting, Frank! I've been allergic to cockroaches for much of my adult life: dust from where they've been lurking makes me itch and my eyes run. If I clean up after them, I'll get welts on my skin. Now, I'm wondering whether it's the roaches or the moulds they harbour that get up my nose?

I've seen roaches with whitish or bluish patches of mildew on them and now I'm thinking maybe I should catch some and see if I can sample the stuff. Just as an aside, we've had massive numbers of cockroaches this year, along with unseasonable rain and many days with 90%+ humidity. Everyone in our street has been spraying and bombing to no avail: the roaches keep marchin' in. O yay! Another interesting observation is that we've had all three species of roach (Periplaneta americana, P. australiasiae and Blatella germanica) at the same time. What is going on???

FWIW, the Borax legend is a crock!

 

[findi]

Now that's interesting, Frank! I've been allergic to cockroaches for much of my adult life: dust from where they've been lurking makes me itch and my eyes run. If I clean up after them, I'll get welts on my skin. Now, I'm wondering whether it's the roaches or the moulds they harbour that get up my nose?

I've seen roaches with whitish or bluish patches of mildew on them and now I'm thinking maybe I should catch some and see if I can sample the stuff. Just as an aside, we've had massive numbers of cockroaches this year, along with unseasonable rain and many days with 90%+ humidity. Everyone in our street has been spraying and bombing to no avail: the roaches keep marchin' in. O yay! Another interesting observation is that we've had all three species of roach (Periplaneta americana, P. australiasiae and Blatella germanica) at the same time. What is going on???

FWIW, the Borax legend is a crock!

Hello,

Thanks for the note...American and German roaches sometimes co-exist here in NY, but I believe they split up habitats in some way. Best to check in with a doctor, as roaches of many species have been linked to a number of health concerns, including asthma-like conditions (seems caused by droppings, dead bodied, but mold, bacteria, fungi could all be involved..allergy testing needed).

I hope the plague passes quickly! Best, Frank

 

[Kalidasa]

Yuck yuck yuck! I remember a fashion fad of wearing those things (live) as jewelry. They would attach them somehow to a pin or broach, and wear them. Which is cruel even for a cockroach. If I ever saw one of those things running around.......OMG I don't even want to think about it!

 

[findi]

Yuck yuck yuck! I remember a fashion fad of wearing those things (live) as jewelry. They would attach them somehow to a pin or broach, and wear them. Which is cruel even for a cockroach. If I ever saw one of those things running around.......OMG I don't even want to think about it!

Yes...anoles as "lapel pets" also, guppies and brine shrimp in lockets...recently dyed frogs have again popped up in US and China.

Luckily, hissing roaches move slowly, don't fly and do not colonize homes...but if they ever hybridize with "house roaches (German, etc) then watch out! Best, Frank