Environmental and structural determinants of Periplaneta americana and Blattella germanica infestations in urban buildings of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Abstract Background The increased population of cockroaches in urban areas has become a major public health and economic problem, especially in eastern cities. This research was done to clarify the patterns of distributions and ecological determinants of Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana in various urban environments of the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Methods The survey took place in the period between March 2023 and February 2024 and involved 120 sites, a total of 2,754 cockroach specimens, including residential and commercial facilities, as well as healthcare and educational institutions. The identification of the species was made with conventional morphological taxonomic keys. The environmental and structural variables were found to be significant environmental factors in infestation risk; their impact was measured with the help of the multivariate logistic regression. Results The likely predominant species were B. germanica (79.9%); however, P. americana was found in 20.1%. B. germanica had a high association with kitchens in residential apartments (49.4% of infestations), whereas the P. americana were overrepresented in hotels and restaurants. Multivariate analysis involved wooden furniture (OR = 2.97, p = 0.007), inadequate sanitation (OR = 2.53, p = 0.002), secondary ceiling structures (OR = 1.87, p = 0.045) and close spatial proximity of buildings (OR = 2.61, p = 0.003). Conclusions The dynamics of cockroach infestation in urban Kurdistan are a result of a complex of structural weaknesses and environmental factors. All this highlights the urgency of combined pest management systems to focus on environmental clean-up, optimization of architectural designs, and an active surveillance approach. It is important to implement such evidence-based measures to reduce the risk of infestation and enhance the public health outcomes in cities in the region.