Hissing Cockroaches May Trigger Allergies

Madagascar hissing cockroaches might be gentle creatures, but U.S. scientists have discovered they can be hosts to many species of mold.

The large size, odd sounds and low-maintenance of the insects have made the species popular educational tools and pets, Ohio State University researchers said. But the giant roaches’ hard bodies and feces are home to many mold species that could trigger allergies in people who handle them.

OSU scientists identified 14 different types of mold on and around the hissing cockroach, including several associated with allergies or that can cause secondary infections if they enter the lungs or an open wound.

We are not criticizing their use, said OSU doctoral candidate Joshua Benoit, lead author of the study. “We are just saying that if you handle these cockroaches, you should wash your hands when you’re done.

It’s not a pet you can ignore, he added. Without regular cleaning, feces will build up, and the old exoskeletons they shed will build up. And that’s where a lot of the problems happen.

The research that included Jay Yoder and Brian Glenn of Wittenberg University and Lawrence Zettler of Illinois College appears in the journal Mycoses.