Tick bite protection with permethrin-treated summer-weight clothing
- PMID: 21485369
- DOI: 10.1603/me10158
Tick bite protection with permethrin-treated summer-weight clothing
Abstract
The number of tick bites received by individuals wearing either permethrin-treated or untreated summer clothing (T-shirt, shorts, socks, and sneakers) was compared during a controlled indoor study. Pathogen-free nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say were placed on the left shoe, right leg, and left arm of 15 (5/treatment group/d) human volunteers wearing untreated outfits or outfits treated with permethrin either commercially or using a do-at-home treatment kit. The number and location of ticks attached to subjects' skin were recorded 2.5 h postinfestation. Subjects wearing outfits treated with permethrin received 3.36 times fewer tick bites than subjects wearing untreated outfits. No statistically significant differences in number of tick bites were detected between commercial permethrin treatment (19.33%) and the do-at-home permethrin application method (24.67%). The success of permethrin-treated clothing in reducing tick bites varied depending on the specific article of clothing. Subjects wearing permethrin-treated sneakers and socks were 73.6 times less likely to have a tick bite than subjects wearing untreated footware. Subjects wearing permethrin-treated shorts and T-shirts were 4.74 and 2.17 times, respectively, less likely to receive a tick bite in areas related to those specific garments than subjects wearing untreated shorts and T-shirts. Ticks attached to subjects were classified as alive or dead before removal. On subjects wearing untreated outfits, 97.6% of attached nymphs were alive, whereas significantly fewer (22.6%) attached nymphs were alive on subjects wearing repellent-treated outfits. Results of this study demonstrate the potential of permethrin-treated summer clothing for significantly reducing tick bites and tick-borne pathogen transmission.
Similar articles
-
Personal protection measures to prevent tick bites in the United States: Knowledge gaps, challenges, and opportunities.Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2022 Jul;13(4):101944. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101944. Epub 2022 Mar 26. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2022. PMID: 35364518 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Impact of Wearing and Washing/Drying of Permethrin-Treated Clothing on Their Contact Irritancy and Toxicity for Nymphal Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks.J Med Entomol. 2019 Jan 8;56(1):199-214. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjy138. J Med Entomol. 2019. PMID: 30165532 Free PMC article.
-
Pilot study assessing the effectiveness of factory-treated, long-lasting permethrin-impregnated clothing for the prevention of tick bites during occupational tick exposure in highly infested military training areas, Germany.Parasitol Res. 2015 Feb;114(2):671-8. doi: 10.1007/s00436-014-4232-y. Epub 2014 Nov 22. Parasitol Res. 2015. PMID: 25416331
-
The Effect of Long-lasting Permethrin Impregnated Socks on Tick Bite in Korea.J Korean Med Sci. 2021 Feb 22;36(7):e49. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e49. J Korean Med Sci. 2021. PMID: 33619917 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Prevention of Lyme disease.Am J Hosp Pharm. 1992 May;49(5):1164-73. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1992. PMID: 1595748 Review.
Cited by
-
Ixodes scapularis Is the Most Susceptible of the Three Canonical Human-Biting Tick Species of North America to Repellent and Acaricidal Effects of the Natural Sesquiterpene, (+)-Nootkatone.Insects. 2023 Dec 22;15(1):8. doi: 10.3390/insects15010008. Insects. 2023. PMID: 38249014 Free PMC article.
-
Lyme Borreliosis Serology: A Prospective Cohort Study of Forestry Service Workers in the Netherlands over 8 Years (2008 to 2016) of Follow-Up.Life (Basel). 2023 May 8;13(5):1143. doi: 10.3390/life13051143. Life (Basel). 2023. PMID: 37240788 Free PMC article.
-
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Pastoralists Towards Tick Bites, and Tick Control in Plateau State, Nigeria.Acta Parasitol. 2023 Jun;68(2):372-384. doi: 10.1007/s11686-023-00670-5. Epub 2023 Mar 28. Acta Parasitol. 2023. PMID: 36976439
-
Personal protection measures to prevent tick bites in the United States: Knowledge gaps, challenges, and opportunities.Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2022 Jul;13(4):101944. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101944. Epub 2022 Mar 26. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2022. PMID: 35364518 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Determination of the Discriminating Concentration Towards Permethrin for Surveying Resistance in Amblyomma americanum.J Med Entomol. 2022 May 11;59(3):922-929. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjac029. J Med Entomol. 2022. PMID: 35323944 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical