Efficacy of plant-derived and synthetic compounds on clothing as repellents against Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)

J Med Entomol. 2012 Jan;49(1):101-6. doi: 10.1603/me10241.

Abstract

We conducted field trials to compare the relative repellent activity of two natural product compounds (nootkatone and carvacrol) with commercially available plant-derived (EcoSMART organic insect repellent) and permethrin-based (Repel Permanone) repellents against adult Ixodes scapularis Say and Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae) by using treated coveralls. One day after treatment, nootkatone and carvacrol provided 100% repellency of I. scapularis adults, with nootkatone maintaining complete protection through 3 d, whereas carvacrol showed steadily declining repellency against I. scapularis during the 7-d course of the trials. Nootkatone was at least as effective against host-seeking A. americanum as against I. scapularis through 3 d. Carvacrol provided little protection against A. americanum adults. Both natural compounds performed well initially in comparison with the commercial products. After 7 d, nootkatone was the most effective against both species followed in order of activity by Permanone, EcoSMART, and carvacrol. Nootkatone seems to have offer considerable potential as a clothing repellent against both I. scapularis and A. americanum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Clothing
  • Cymenes
  • Insect Repellents / chemistry*
  • Insect Repellents / pharmacology*
  • Ixodidae / drug effects*
  • Monoterpenes / chemistry
  • Monoterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Permethrin / chemistry
  • Permethrin / pharmacology
  • Plants / chemistry*
  • Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemistry
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Tick Control

Substances

  • Cymenes
  • Insect Repellents
  • Monoterpenes
  • Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Permethrin
  • carvacrol
  • nootkatone