Progress 11/01/04 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: I have been a primary organizer of an interdisciplinary group that includes industry (Oreck-Halo), the OSU College of Public Health (Dept. Environ. Health) and Entomology to explore novel tools for controlling indoor asthma and allergy triggers. A cornerstone of this project has been evaluating the use of ultraviolet light. Experiments on the use of UV-C for killing microbes/mites on carpet validated the potential of this non-chemical pest control tactic. The use of this technology and other allergen-controlling methodologies were communicated to an array of stakeholders, from asthmatic elementary school-aged children to allergy physicians/interns. For example, we mentored OSU College of Pharmacy students who took the Open Airways for Schools curriculum (American Lung Assoc.) to six Columbus Public Schools (J. Cable, OSU College of Pharmacy). I spoke at the Annual Midwest Workshop in Environ. Health on IPM of Indoor Arthropods (Columbus, 60 sanitarians). I co-organized (with OSU Pulmonary Physician, Dr. B. Martin and OSU Herbarium Curator C. Dassler) two workshops for allergy physicians/interns called Pesky Plants and Bothersome Bugs, given in April and September, where I covered stinging insects, bed bugs, ticks and dust mites (OSU, 50 participants). In the OSU Acarology Summer Program Medical Veterinary unit I covered in detail dust mite biology and IPM (6 participants). Conferences/Meetings: Certain dog breeds have atopic dermatitis to dust mite allergens so I conducted a two-hour training at the OSU Parasitology Conf. (College of Vet. Med., 50 Veterinarians earned CME credit). As past chair of the 200-member Ohio Asthma Coalition I helped organize the Bi-Annual Education and Research Conference (OSU). I gave a lecture on dust mite IPM to the Ohio Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Council (Columbus, 100 people). Services: The Dr. Oz Show (CBS) does mini-demonstrations on various health-related issues. I provided HD video/photographs of dust mites when they covered allergy and asthma triggers. I consulted with National Allergy Supply, evaluating one of their barrier products for dust mite mitigation. Products: We revised a pocket guide for the Pesky Plants and Bothersome Bugs workshops, which physicians are now using to education their patients on what insects, mites and plants to avoid. Dissemination: We distributed 100 pocket guides on to allergy residents/pest control professionals. A web site with the material is being created. My most significant outputs/dissemination have been through teaching about and advocating for dust mites and asthma prevention during 8 years as a volunteer for the Ohio Asthma Coalition (Chair, 2009-2010; http://www.ohioasthmacoalition.org), where two Ohio Statewide Asthma Plans were produced (http://www.ohioasthmacoalition.org/about/asthma-plan.pdf) and I co-chaired the Environmental Quality and Research Committees (currently). The second most significant output was serving as a Co-Pi on the OSU-funded Community Outreach project with the OSU College of Public Health where we helped underserved individuals with workshops and printed materials in multiple languages. PARTICIPANTS: The Open Airways program (American Lung Association Curriculum) continued in concert with the OSU College of Pharmacy (Dr. Jerry Cable) and six pharmacy students. Six inner city Columbus schools were served in 2010. The Weed and Wasp Walking Workshop was co-organized again by Dr. Brian Martin, OSU Division of Pulmonology, Dr. Cynthia Dassler, OSU Herbarium and myself. Funding came through the OSU Department of Internal Medicine. The 59th Acarology Summer Program was co-organized with Dr. Hans Klompen. There was a full day on dust mites, allergy and asthma taught by Dr. Needham, including a field trip to collect and quantify live mites. TARGET AUDIENCES: Schools served by the Pharmacy students using the Open Airways curriculum were inner-city schools with various ethnic groups represented. All of the elementary-aged children have asthma. Medical doctors specializing in pulmonary disorders such as asthma (allergy interns) were the target audience of our two Pesky Plants and Bothersome Bugs workshops (one in spring and fall). Many of their patients are women and minorities who are genetically pre-disposed to allergies and asthma. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: This project is being terminated. With the discovery of Lyme-disease carrying ticks in Coshocton County, Ohio in March of 2010 by the PI, he will be turning his full attention to determining the tick's distribution and infection rate. A new project description is being prepared to that end.
Impacts
Significant progress was made when a brief exposure of surface microbes (and mites) to ultraviolet light killed these organisms. When this UV-C light source is incorporated into a HEPA vacuum cleaner, then it is anticipated that exposure risk to some pathogens (and allergens) will be reduced by killing the organisms and removing them and their offending by-products. This is a positive step forward especially for sensitized and immuno-compromised individuals. Field-testing of the findings will be the next important step in proof-of-concept. Use of an UV vacuum (Oreck-Halo) will not totally replace current tactics (chemicals, barriers) but may augment future integrated management of indoor pathogens and pests. An environmentally positive attribute is that there is neither a chemical residue, nor damage to the treated/cleaned surface. The marketplace will determine whether this technology will be feasible in practice. The units cost approximately five hundred dollars and will be out of reach for some consumers. Ticks were not the primary organism of study in this project but finding the Lyme disease vector, the black-legged tick Ixodes scapularis, in Ohio for the first time is the primary reason for terminating the current mite/asthma project to focus on ticks and this new public threat to human and animal health in the state.
Publications
- Lutz, E.A., S. Sharma, B. Casto, G. Needham and T.J. Buckley. 2010. Effectiveness of UV-C equipped vacuum at reducing culturable surface-bound microorganisms on carpets. Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 44. : 9451-9455.
- McClure, J.C., M.L. Crothers, J.J. Schaefer, P.D. Stanley, G.R. Needham, S.A. Ewing, R.W. Stich. 2010. Efficacy of a doxycycline treatment regimen initiated during three different phases of experimental ehrlichiosis. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Vol. 54, no. 12. (December): 5012-5020.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research focused on non-chemical/novel plant-derived chemical methods for arthropod pest management, primarily indoors; mentored 5 undergrads on bed bugs/dust mites/forensic entomol. projects, they presented 3 posters; taught two undergrad entomol. courses; team-taught special topics in medical entomol. Events: These talks or posters were authored/co-authored: National Pest Management Assoc.in Las Vegas, 'Public Health-Flea Reemergence and Novel Mgmt Tactics'; 61st Annual Midwestern Conf. of Parasitologists, Ohio Wesleyan University, 'Amazing Ticks: Life in the Weeds and Attached to You'; 2009 Ohio Regional School Nurse Conference, Newark, Mason and Huron, 'Bed Bugs in the Community and School' (600 school nurses); 6th Intl. IPM Symposium, Portland, 'Integrated House Dust Mite Management Indoors Using Ultraviolet Light'; University of Colorado Medical School, Dermatology Dept., 'Arthropod Bites'; OSU Lunch/Learn Program, 'Bed Bug Epidemic: How Should We Respond'; live 30-min internet program, 'Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite' for COSI's Expert Series; co-organized OSU's 58th Acarology Summer Workshop (3 wk, 31 participants,14 countries); co-organized/conducted Weed/Wasp Walking Workshop (4 h, 15 allergy physicians); 8th Annual OSU Wellness Fair bed bug info table. Services: Active service (7 yrs) for 257-member Ohio Asthma Coalition, OAC chair in 2009-2010, helped with 5-year Statewide Asthma Plan; I chair monthly OAC steering committee meetings, organize/conduct quarterly coalition meetings around the state. Co-organized 6-session program at 2 elementary schools (30 asthmatics) 'Open Airways for Schools'; local/central district science fair judge; bug presentations at 3 schools; mite expert on TV show, Mystery Hunters, a Discovery Kids Production. Provided HD videos and/or micrographs for 2 Dr. Oz Shows, Discovery Channel Series 'Invisible World'; external examiner (2 Ph.D. dissertations), Univ. Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan; journal reviewer (4 papers). Products: Graduate student earned MS degree studying spiders. Co-created color 5-page laminated Bed Bug Pocket Guide for the community; co-created color 17-page laminated Weed and Wasp Pocket Guide. Helped create/assist maintaining OAC's web site http://www.ohioasthmacoalition.org/. Proper tick removal is described at http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~acarolog/needham/tickgone.htm. For Acarology Workshops we assemble tick/mite manuals with keys/information, some on CDs. Dissemination: OSU Center for Clinical and Translational Science Community Engagement Program funded Tim Buckley (PI), myself (Co-PI) and others (9 mo), The Wedgewood Community: A Partnership to Bridge Barriers for Community Access and Assistance. As an entomologist I helped educate the multi-cultural, economically challenged community of 1,800 on pests. Color educational fliers/booklets were produced/distributed in Somali/English to 79 buildings entitled, Habits for a Healthy Home, to improve their living conditions. A follow-up four-year, $1.2 million EPA grant is pending. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Tim Buckley, Associate Professor and Chair of Environmental Health Sciences was project PI for, The Wedgewood Community: A Partnership to Bridge Barriers for Community Access and Assistance, funded by OSU Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Community Engagement Program's Seed Grants for Increasing Community Engagement in Health-related Research. G.R. Needham was a Co-PI on the project. Partners organizations and stakeholders were Home Properties, Inc. (Wedgewood Village Apartments), Columbus Public Schools, Westside Community Health Advisory Committee, Columbus Public Health Department, African Refugee Educational and Cultural Services, Inc., OSU College of Public Health, OSU College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service and Varment Guard Pest Control. The Open Airways program (American Lung Association Curriculum) was co-organized with the OSU College of Pharmacy (Dr. Jerry Cable) and four pharmacy students. Two inner city Columbus schools were served in 2009. The Weed and Wasp Walking Workshop was co-organized by Dr. Brian Martin, OSU Division of Pulmonology, Dr. Cynthia Dassler, OSU Herbarium and myself. Funding came through the OSU Department of Internal Medicine. Acarology Summer Program is a co-organized worship with Dr. Hans Klompen being chiefly responsible for Introductory Acarology. Guest lecturers in 2009 for Agricultural Acarology were: Dr. James Amrine, West Virginia University; David James, Washington State University; Gilberto J. de Moraes, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil; Ron Ochoa, USDA, Beltsville; Barry OConnor, U. Michigan; Maurice Sabelis, U. Amsterdam, Netherlands; Cal Welbourn, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Wedgewood Project served a community of 1,800 individuals that are approximately 37% white (many Hispanic), 40% Somali and 19% African-American. Many of these individuals are socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged. One third have asthma, 14% have only a high school education and 17% some college experience. Many are not literate in English or even their native language (Somali). Most would be considered as sub-poverty, unemployment is very high and most have no health insurance. If the EPA grant is funded then we will spend the next 4 years working at Wedgewood to improve their quality of life. Three formal entomology courses were taught during 2009, with much of the information concerning arthropod-human interactions. Two workshops were presented (Acarology, 3 wks; Weed and Wasp, half day) that included hands-on laboratory instruction. Numerous sessions were presented at the Wedgewood Village on Habits for a Healthy Home. The Open Airways for schools served primarily minority elementary school children with the entire range of asthma severities. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The project has broadened to include more than dust mites and asthma. Bed bugs, ticks, fleas and other mites are now being included, especially in the outreach component and research.
Impacts
Since 1951 we estimate that more > 2,000 participants have been trained from more than 40 countries. The 2009 workshop trained 31 undergraduates, graduates, post-docs or professionals from 14 countries on basic mite identification/biology/control. These individuals return to the academy, government or private sector jobs where they apply their knowledge. This improves food production and safety, and helps protect the public/domestic animals from mite/tick pests. Participants then train more acarologists and the learning is multiplied, which changes both knowledge and actions globally. As chair of the Ohio Asthma Coalition I assisted with preparing the 5-year State Asthma Plan, which will: 1) assess Ohio asthma burden; 2) reduce asthma disparities among disproportionately affected populations; and. 3) decrease hospitalizations, emergency department/urgent care visits. CDC through the Ohio Department of Health is funding the plan. Both knowledge and action occur as a result of quarterly meetings, via webinars, weekly e-mailed newsletters and an extensive web site. OAC organizes a regional education/research conference biannually and I have been on three of those committees. I co-organized the offering of ALA's Open Airways curriculum in two central Ohio elementary schools using the talent and time of four OSU Pharmacy students who served approximately 30 asthmatic children. Children had to pass an exam after the 6-sessions. Six schools will be served in 2010. Twenty participants were taught about plants that cause allergies and insect stings that can trigger an anaphylaxis in the first Weed and Wasp Walking Workshop. OSU Pulmonary, OSU Herbarium and I co-organized a half-day session with slides followed by lab demonstrations and nature walk. Trainees were fellows in the Pulmonary Program and allergy/asthma physicians who teach patients how to avoid contact with offending pollen and insects as a form of preventive medicine. The OSU Center for Clinical and Translational Science Community Engagement Program Seed Grant funded a project. Stakeholders and Wedgewood community residents built a partnership to serve as a foundation for a broad-based research agenda to meet the diverse, multi-factorial and critical public health needs of this urban community. Through this partnership we sought to: 1) better understand the community's concerns; 2) deliver educational content and resources that would address those concerns; and 3) gather information that will guide the formulation of future research designed to assist the community. These goals were achieved through strategic and inter-related initiatives including partnership formation, regular meetings, community liaisons, community forums, printed material, and a community survey. Partners were property management staff, Columbus Public Schools, Columbus Public Health, OSU College of Public Health, and Cooperative Extension Service. A 4-year U.S. EPA $1.2 million grant, Building Community Capacity to Mitigate Indoor Threats in a Disadvantaged and High-Density Housing Development, is pending. Dermatologists were made aware of the bed bug epidemic through a publication on the subject.
Publications
- Kolb, A., Needham, G.R., Neyman, K.M. and High, W.A. (2009) Bedbugs. Dermatologic Therapy 22:347-352.
- Landau, S.Y., Provenza, F.D., Gardner, D.R., Pfister, J.A., Knoppel, E.L., Peterson, C., Kababya, D., Needham, G.R. and Villalba, J.J. (2009) Neem-tree (Azadirachta indica Juss.) extract as a feed additive against the American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) in sheep (Ovis aries). 165: 311-317.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Control of indoor pests, particularly those that contribute to allergies and asthma, is challenging because those individuals tend to be very sensitive to chemicals and odors associated with insecticides. A relationship began with a company about two years ago to test the impact of ultraviolet light in the C wavelength on these pests. Work on dust mites is well along and has demonstrated their sensitivity to a brief exposure of UV-C. In July I spent two weeks in Bloemfontein, South Africa doing research on the impact of UV-C upon cat fleas, the most common pest of cats, dogs and humans in the U.S. ClinVet is one of the premier companion animal and livestock research companies in Africa. A manuscript is in preparation, which reports that flea eggs and larvae are very susceptible to a brief dose of UV-C. Further research is being conducted on bed bugs and various insect and mite pests for their susceptibility to UV-C. My research focused on non-chemical methods for pest management indoors with emphasis on the use of ultraviolet light. Among the most significant efforts was participation in the International Congress of Entomology in Durban, South Africa from July 6-12 where I co-authored an oral paper, "Cat fleas, dust mites and mold mites are susceptible to a brief exposure of ultraviolet light". I authored or co-authored oral papers (4) or posters (2) on tick physiology, behavior and control with three former graduate students, and co-organized and co-moderated a symposium, New approaches toward understanding vector physiology and control, with Andrew Li (USDA). My involvement with the Ohio Asthma Coalition has been very fruitful (www.ohioasthmacoalition.org/) with 6 years of active participation. I am co-chair of the Environmental Quality Committee, which organized the quarterly meeting of the OAC at Children's Hospital in June with a full day program attended by ~40 nurses, physicians, researchers and allied health professionals. I was co-chair of the organizing committee for a regional Education and Research Asthma Conference on the OSU, August 1, 2008. I presented an overview talk, Dust Mites and Bed Bug Lurking in a Mattress Near You. Beginning in March, 2009 I will be chair of the 187-member OAC. I participated as a `mite expert' on the television show, Mystery Hunters, which is a Discovery Kids production from Canada. It aired on January 11, 2009. A seminar was given to the OSU Division of Environmental Health Sciences on 23 October entitled, "Public Health Entomology: A Vision for Research, Teaching and Outreach". Along with Hans Klompen, we organized the 58th Acarology Summer Program at the Museum of Biological Diversity on the OSU campus with 27 participants from 14 different countries taking Soil (15) and MedVet (12) Acarology(http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~acarolog/summerProgram/). This is the only workshop of its kind in the world with guest lectures presenting their particular areas of expertise during the multi-week workshops. Custom-made manuals with many keys on CDs enrich the hands-on experience of working with the teaching collection, the best of its kind in the world. PARTICIPANTS: The Ohio Asthma Coalition (OAC, 187 members) and Central Ohio Asthma Coalition (30) are two partner organization where I have invested considerable time and energy towards asthma education and research. I am chair-elect of the OAC and have served on the steering committee for three years. For the past two years I have been collaborating with the OSU Division Chair for Environmental Health Sciences in the College of Public Health. Our work has focused on the impact of ultraviolet light on surface microbes and small arthropods in carpet. One industry grant has been funded and another is pending. We are working with an industry partner (Oreck) to evaluate their UV vacuum for microbe and arthropod management. We partnered with the Columbus Apartment Association to educate their stakeholders about bed bugs. Presentations were presented to their apartment managers and staff. I am collaborating with the OSU College of Public Health and OSU College of Internal Medicine to develop grant proposals to evaluate the UV-C technology as part of an integrated pest management arsenal. These interdisciplinary projects will provide opportunities for training undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, M.D. residents and fellows. The Acarology Summer Program is the longest running international training program for acarologists (since 1951). TARGET AUDIENCES: We are working with and educating community health care professionals (especially school nurses) and property owners/managers to be aggressive in managing allergen producers (dust mites), bed bugs and dust mites in safe and effective ways. The pest control industry is also a target of our education and translational research. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: We are adding bed bugs and fleas to our broader research and educational project as they are often companion pests especially in low income housing. They are also very susceptible to brief UV exposure.
Impacts
In developed countries there is an emphasis on insect and mite pest management using fewer chemicals in lower quantities, especially indoors. Concerns about chemical exposure of non-target organisms (humans, companion animals) and pesticide resistance are very legitimate issues. Public buildings (e.g. schools, hospitals, government offices) and private properties (hotels, motels, apartments, residences, cruise ships, etc.) are prone to pest infestations (bed bugs, fleas, cockroaches, dust mites, etc.) due to high-volume traffic. Our research on the use of ultraviolet light on fleas, bed bugs and dust mites suggests that certain life stages are very sensitive to a very brief exposure of less than one second. While partnering with private industry (Oreck-Halo) we are very optimistic that UV-C can become part of the indoor pest management arsenal. However, further research is required. Projects testing UV-C conducted in housing units of underserved segments of the population will hopefully improve their quality of life while reducing their exposure to chemical pesticides. If proven successful, ultraviolet light may become a significant novel tool for pest control indoors. Parallel studies are being conducted on the impact of UV-C upon surface microbes in collaboration with the OSU College of Public Health. Preliminary results there are also very encouraging. The utility of UV-C products for consumers to use for management of indoor pests and microbes is encouraging. Having UV-C units available for decontamination is also important given the threat of a bioterrorism event.
Publications
- Gavino, A.C.P., Needham, G.R. and High, W.A. (2008) Atopic dermatitis, patch testing, and house dust mites: a brief review. Dermatitis 19: 121-128.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: My research is focused on nonchemical methods of pest management indoors with emphasis on the use of ultraviolet light. Among the most significant efforts was participation in the American Thoracic Society meeting in San Francisco on May 21 where I presented the poster, Ultraviolet C is Lethal to House Dust Mites After Only a Brief Exposure. Some 14,000 physicians and scientists attended this international conference. My involvement with the Ohio Asthma Coalition has been very fruitful (http://www.ohioasthmacoalition.org/) after nearly 5 years. I am co-chair of the Environmental Quality Committee, which organized the quarterly meeting of the OAC on the OSU campus in September with a full day program, which was attended by 50-60 nurses, physicians, researchers and allied health professionals. I am co-chair of the organizing committee for a regional asthma conference on the OSU campus, August 1, 2008. The Center for Science and Industry (COSI) invited me to present a program
on dust mites called, Yikes-Dust Mites in a Carpet or Mattress Near You, Now What to Do? The COSI Expert Series is available to schools all over the country that can subscribe to the 40-minute program by interactive video link (www.cosi.org). They have invited me to do another program the spring of 2008 because the last one was so well received. Finally, along with Hans Klompen in our department, we organized the 57th Acarology Summer Program at the Museum of Biological Diversity on the OSU campus with 30 participants from 14 different countries taking Introductory and Agricultural Acarology. The summer of 2008 we will offer Soil and MedVet Acarology (http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~acarolog/summerProgram/). This is the only workshop of its kind in the world with guest lectures presenting their particular areas of expertise during the three-week long workshops. Custom-made manuals with many keys on CDs enrich the hands-on experience. This year for the first time we used a new
high-definition camera attached to dissecting and compound microscopes to visualize the best tick and mite teaching collection in the world.
PARTICIPANTS: This research has been a partnership with industries that are seeking novel ways to manage bacterial, viral, fungal and arthropod pests on flooring in homes. I have benefited from colleagues in the College of Medicine, in particular Dr. Tim Buckley, Chair of Environmental Health, in the OSU School of Public Health. As a result I have joined the new program at OSU called Public Health Preparedness for Infectious Diseases (http://phpid.osu.edu/). Dr. Buckley also heads this newly funded program, which is intended To protect public health by minimizing animal to human, environmental, and food borne infectious disease threats through innovative interdisciplinary research. In addition, I play a major role in the Ohio Asthma Coalition as co-chair of the Environmental Quality Committee (http://www.ohioasthmacoalition.org/about/about.htm). I am a member of the Steering Committee for this organization with approximately 170 members representing 97 organizations across the state.
Our goal is to improve indoor and outdoor environmental health by encouraging research and education about asthma. I am co-chair of the organizing committee for a regional asthma research and education meeting on the OSU campus this coming August, which will offer continuing medical education credits for nurses, respiratory therapists and physicians.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Information from research is aimed at general audiences where allergies, asthma and indoor pest management are of concern. It is hoped that findings will improve integrated pest management strategies with less dependence on chemicals. Recommendations given by pest control companies, extension agents, and physicians are also targes of this new information.
Impacts
Control of indoor pests, particularly those that contribute to allergies and asthma, is challenging because those patients tend to be very sensitive to chemicals and odors associated with insecticides. A relationship began with a company about two years ago to test the impact of ultraviolet light in the C wavelength on these pests (Halo Technologies, Inc). Work on dust mites is well along and has demonstrated their sensitivity to a brief exposure of UV-C. In September I spent two weeks in Bloemfontein, South Africa doing research on the impact of UV-C upon cat fleas, the most common pest of cats, dogs and humans in the U.S. ClinVet is one of the premier companion animal and livestock research companies in Africa. Preliminary experiments suggest that flea eggs and larvae are very susceptible to a dose of UV-C. Follow up experiments are being done at ClinVet to confirm those results. Further research is being conducted on bed bugs and various insect and mite pests for
their susceptibility to UV-C. Results of these studies will be reported at the International Entomology Congress in Durban, South Africa in July, 2008. A common misconception is that fleas removed from carpet by a vacuum cleaner continue to survive inside the unit, possibly escaping at some later time. Research using a standard upright vacuum showed that larva, pupal and adult fleas do not survive the vacuuming process. We hypothesize that the physical abuse and abrasion of their water-proofing exoskeleton is the cause of death. The debris passes through the fan on its way to the collection bag. Most new vacuums create suction without passing through the fan so the outcome with them needs to be evaluated. It is much less likely that insect pests will develop resistance to physical controls than to chemicals. Extension agents and professional pest control companies should encourage the use of this non-chemical control tactic for fleas.
Publications
- Hink, W.F. and Needham, G.R. (2007). Vacuuming is lethal to all postembryonic life stages of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 125: 221-222.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Evaluating environmentally benign and efficacious methods for house dust mite management was the primary focus this year using ultraviolet-C (UVC). A paper was given at the annual American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reporting that only five seconds of UVC emitted from a Halo patent-pending UVC bulb chamber was sufficient to kill the egg stage of the American house dust mite. Further experiments have demonstrated that only one second is required to kill the egg. A manuscript has been prepared on the egg mortality. A prototype vacuum with UVC projecting down into the carpet/fabric should be available for testing in early 2007. This non-acaricidal mite management tool could help revolutionize mite management and allergen removal if it is as effective in the home environment as it has been in the laboratory. Preliminary testing was performed on goat lice (only 12 specimens) with a brief four second exposure to UVC emitted from a Halo patent-pending UVC bulb
chamber. There was 100 percent mortality. Only six specimens were treated with UVC and they perished by 48 hrs, while one out of six of the controls was dead after the same interval. This experiment shows that UVC treatment has potential for lice control on humans and livestock. Further testing using larger sample sizes and different lice species are planned. Likewise, we tested exposure of flea eggs to UVC emitted from a Halo patent-pending UVC bulb chamber. UVC-treated egg hatch success was much lower than untreated controls after three days. We plan to repeat these experiments using large sample sizes and the different life stages. The idea is that flea-infested carpet may be cleaned and UVC treated thus extracting and killing these pests without using a chemical insecticide.
Impacts
Some 10.3% of adults in Ohio have asthma, which is greater than any other chronic disease. The percentage of children suffering from asthma approaches 15% in some areas with minority and lower income families suffering the most. In 2001, 153 individuals died and in the US about 5,000 people die from asthma annually. In the same year, $760,000,000 was spent to treat asthma (hospitalizations) patients in Ohio and the costs continue to rise at an alarming rate. Because asthma is a chronic disease it is one of the most expensive to manage. Thus, healthcare organizations are eager for novel developments in reducing or preventing asthma. Our research offers a solution in integrated pest management of allergen producers as more than half of the asthma sufferers are sensitive to indoor allergens, especially dust mites. The question remains whether UVC exposure of these arthropods in carpet will be tractable and sufficient to impact these pest populations. The manufacturer
plans to introduce the product into the marketplace during 2007. At the same time we hope to be asked to do in-homes testing of its efficacy. With some one million Ohioans suffering from asthma it could be a very important step forward for them to have access to a safe and effective too that removes allergens and kills the allergen producer.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Five projects were launched in 2005 and four are ongoing. One has been to test the impact of ultraviolet light on the American house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae. Data clearly show that only a 1 second exposure is lethal to the egg stage. The results of this study will be presented as a poster at the upcoming meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Miami Beach, FL (March 4). We are currently testing different exposure times on all stages with the hypothesis being that UV-C will have an impact on molting and reproduction since UV-C damages both DNA and RNA. The next is a product of several plants and thus with numerous potential active ingredients, may reduce the likelihood of resistance developing while being broad spectrum in activity. Initial experiments show the product to be effective in killing mites when applied to specimens deposited onto mattress ticking. We expect to do further testing on bedbugs, roaches and fleas. The
third project involves a new active ingredient, which kills mites in several days. It also may break down allergen and plans are being made to test this possibility using dust mite, pollen and cat allergen. The fourth project is aimed at testing neem against dust mites. Since it is not typically a contact poison we are currently testing different percentages of neem added to 'mite chow' to see if ingestion of the product will impact behavior, reproduction, molting and mortality. The final project demonstrated that a formulation of boric acid kill dust mites. The upside is the safety and cost-effectiveness, while the downside is that it takes about 3 wks to be effective. That product is now in commercial use as an aftermarket application to fabric under the trade name of Dustmitex, which can be ordered on line from several internet sources (e.g. National Allergy Supply).
Impacts
Some 10.3% of adults in Ohio have asthma, which is greater than any other chronic disease. The percentage of children suffering from asthma approaches 15% in some areas with minority and lower income families suffering the most. In 2001, 153 individuals died and in the US about 5,000 people die from asthma annually. In the same year, $760,000,000 was spent to treat asthma (hospitalizations) patients in Ohio and the costs continue to rise at an alarming rate. Because asthma is a chronic disease it is one of the most expensive to manage. Thus, healthcare organizations are eager for novel developments in reducing or preventing asthma. Our research offers a solution in integrated pest management of allergen producers as more than half of the asthma sufferers are sensitive to indoor allergens, especially dust mites.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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