Worek Franz, Seeger Thomas, Neumaier Katharina, Wille Timo, Thiermann Horst
Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Munich, Germany.
Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Munich, Germany.
Toxicol Lett. 2016 Nov 16;262:12-16. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.09.006. Epub 2016 Sep 14.
The increased interest of terrorist groups in toxic chemicals and chemical warfare agents presents a continuing threat to our societies. Early warning and detection is a key component for effective countermeasures against such deadly agents. Presently available and near term solutions have a number of major drawbacks, e.g. lack of automated, remote warning and detection of primarily low volatile chemical warfare agents. An alternative approach is the use of animals as sentinels for exposure to toxic chemicals. To overcome disadvantages of vertebrates the present pilot study was initiated to investigate the suitability of South American cockroaches (Blaptica dubia) as warning system for exposure to chemical warfare nerve and blister agents. Initial in vitro experiments with nerve agents showed an increasing inhibitory potency in the order tabun - cyclosarin - sarin - soman - VX of cockroach cholinesterase. Exposure of cockroaches to chemical warfare agents resulted in clearly visible and reproducible reactions, the onset being dependent on the agent and dose. With nerve agents the onset was related to the volatility of the agents. The blister agent lewisite induced signs largely comparable to those of nerve agents while sulfur mustard exposed animals exhibited a different sequence of events. In conclusion, this first pilot study indicates that Blaptica dubia could serve as a warning system to exposure of chemical warfare agents. A cockroach-based system will not detect or identify a particular chemical warfare agent but could trigger further actions, e.g. specific detection and increased protective status. By designing appropriate boxes with (IR) motion sensors and remote control (IR) camera automated off-site warning systems could be realized.
恐怖组织对有毒化学品和化学战剂的兴趣增加，给我们的社会带来了持续的威胁。早期预警和检测是有效应对此类致命制剂的关键组成部分。目前可用的和近期的解决方案存在许多主要缺点，例如缺乏对主要低挥发性化学战剂的自动化、远程预警和检测。一种替代方法是使用动物作为接触有毒化学品的哨兵。为了克服脊椎动物的缺点，启动了本试点研究，以调查南美蟑螂（Dubia蟑螂）作为接触化学战神经剂和糜烂剂的预警系统的适用性。最初用神经剂进行的体外实验表明，蟑螂胆碱酯酶对塔崩-环沙林-沙林-梭曼-VX的抑制效力呈递增顺序。蟑螂接触化学战剂会导致明显可见且可重复的反应，反应的开始取决于制剂和剂量。对于神经剂，反应开始与制剂的挥发性有关。糜烂剂路易氏剂引起的体征与神经剂引起的体征大致相当，而接触芥子气的动物表现出不同的事件顺序。总之，这项首次试点研究表明，Dubia蟑螂可以作为接触化学战剂的预警系统。基于蟑螂的系统不会检测或识别特定的化学战剂，但可以触发进一步的行动，例如特定检测和提高防护状态。通过设计带有（红外）运动传感器和遥控（红外）摄像头的合适盒子，可以实现自动化的场外预警系统。
