Rapid insecticide resistance bioassays for three major urban insects in Taiwan.

Background: Taiwan's warm and humid climate and dense population provide a suitable environment for the breeding of pests. The three major urban insects in Taiwan are house flies, cockroaches, and mosquitoes. In cases where a disease outbreak or high pest density necessitates chemical control, selecting the most effective insecticide is crucial.

Effectiveness and acceptance of total release insecticidal aerosol cans as a control measure in reducing dengue vectors.

The effectiveness of regular application of insecticidal fogging in reducing dengue is questionable, since delays occur between peak time of outbreak and insecticide administrations. Moreover, many residents do not accept indoor application because of concern about insecticide contamination of household items. The study described in this article was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptance of insecticidal aerosol cans to reduce dengue vectors inside and outside of homes.

Multidrug resistant bacteria isolated from cockroaches in long-term care facilities and nursing homes.

Residents in long-term care facilities and nursing homes have a relative higher risk for infections. The nocturnal and filthy habits of cockroaches may be ideal disseminators of pathogenic microorganisms in these institutions. This study was designed to determine the infestation and vector potential of cockroaches under this institutional environment.

Seasonal abundance of vectors at outdoor environments in endemic and nonendemic districts of dengue in Kaohsiung, South Taiwan.

This study was designed to determine the seasonal variation in abundance of dengue vectors at open spaces, empty houses, parks, and markets in endemic and nonendemic districts of dengue. Ovitraps were placed in these sites from March 2003 to January 2004 in Kaohsiung Area (Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung County), South Taiwan. The index peaked in May, June, and September in the endemic districts and in May and October in nonendemic districts.

Health problems among international travellers: from a subtropical region to tropical and non-tropical regions.

International travel may be associated with the risk of a wide range of infectious diseases. This study was designed to obtain information on the health problems among international travellers from a subtropical region to the neighbouring tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. Health problems among international travellers from Taiwan to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand (tropical group), Hong Kong, Macao, China and Japan (non-tropical group) were surveyed through the telephone.

Seaport as a source of hantavirus: a study on isolated isles.

Since small mammals from seaports have relative higher seroprevalences of hantavirus, this seroepidemiologic study was conducted on the isles in Kinmen and Lienchiang Counties along the coast of southern mainland China to determine whether seaport may play the role as a source of hantavirus. Among six species of small mammals trapped in Kinmen County, only male Mus musculus (6.7%) and Rattus losea (5.

Impact of a short-term community-based cleanliness campaign on the sources of dengue vectors: an entomological and human behavior study.

In June 2002, a considerable number of cases of dengue fever/dengue hemorrhage fever were reported in South Taiwan. To effectively reduce the sources of dengue vectors, the government conducted a weeklong community-based cleanliness campaign. The study reported here was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign.

The differences of dengue vectors and human behavior between families with and without members having dengue fever/dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Dengue vectors, human knowledge and behavior have been reported to play an important role in the transmission of dengue. This study was designed to understand the differences of dengue vectors and the behavior between families with (target group) and without (control group) members having dengue fever/dengue hemorrhagic fever. Population density of dengue vectors were determined by ovitrap index.

Insecticide resistance in German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) from hospitals and households in Taiwan.

Since a high percentage of cockroach infestation has been determined in hospitals in Kaohsiung, South Taiwan, insecticide resistances may have developed in the cockroach populations. To determine the resistances in cohorts of German cockroach (Blattella germanica) from hospitals and households to organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids, cockroaches were trapped from 30 hospitals and 30 households in this area. Bioassays by topical application were then carried out on the first generation bred in the laboratory.

Isolation of bacteria with antibiotic resistance from household cockroaches (Periplaneta americana and Blattella germanica).

Cockroaches may harbor and disseminate microorganisms to the environment. In this study, Periplaneta americana and Blattella germanica were collected from 40 households in Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung County, Taiwan. Cockroach infestation was found in 50% of the studied households and 226 cockroaches (123 P.

Cockroaches as potential vectors of nosocomial infections.

Objective: To determine the possible role of cockroaches in the epidemiology of nosocomial infections.

Design: Epidemiologic investigation of bacteria and fungi in cockroaches and evaluation of the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria isolated from the insects.

Setting: Ninety hospitals in Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung County in Taiwan.

Developing a safety and health training model for petrochemical workers.

The production processes of the petrochemical industry expose workers to high potential hazards. Our previous study showed that hazard recognition was closely related to worker safety and health training activities. The purpose of this study was to establish and validate a safety and health training model.

Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana and Blattella germanica) as potential mechanical disseminators of Entamoeba histolytica.

Since cockroaches feed on feces, they may disseminate infective agents with the fecal-oral route. A field survey and experiments were conducted to determine the role of cockroaches in the dissemination of Entamoeba histolytica. Periplaneta americana (n=299) and Blattella germanica (n=29) were collected from 11 primary schools in an urban area of South Taiwan.

A community-based surveillance on determinants of rodent infestation.

Rodent infestation is an important factor in the transmission of infectious diseases of public health importance. From October to November 1998, surveillance stations were established in 110 boroughs of Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan. Boroughs were chosen by random sampling 10 boroughs from each of 11 districts (464 boroughs) in the city.