Repellent Activity of DEET Combined with Botanical Compounds Against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> Nymphs: Laboratory and Field Evaluations

Repellent Activity of DEET Combined with Botanical Compounds Against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> Nymphs: Laboratory and Field Evaluations

This study evaluated the repellent activity of DEET, eugenol, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, and their combinations against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> nymphs through laboratory and field tests. Initially, the botanical compounds were tested individually in Petri dish assays to assess repell...

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Main Authors: Mayara Macêdo Barrozo, Haile Dean Figueiredo Chagas, Gabrielly Bernardes Rodrigues Damaceno, Emilly Faria Santos, Rafael Assunção Carvalho, Isabela Santos Silva, Francisca Letícia Vale, Lainny Jordana Martins Pereira e Sousa, Hermes Ribeiro Luz, Lorena Lopes Ferreira, Caio Monteiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Pathogens
Subjects:
<i>Amblyomma cajennense</i> complex
botanical products
essential oils
eugenol
methyl eugenol
1,8-cineole
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/495
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Summary:This study evaluated the repellent activity of DEET, eugenol, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, and their combinations against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> nymphs through laboratory and field tests. Initially, the botanical compounds were tested individually in Petri dish assays to assess repellent activity over various intervals (1 min to 168 h) at concentrations of 2%. Eugenol and methyl eugenol exhibited the highest average repellent percentages (60 to 90%), with significant effects (<i>p</i> < 0.05) across most evaluation periods, in contrast to 1,8-cineole. Therefore, eugenol and methyl eugenol were selected for combination testing with DEET. The combinations of 7% DEET + 1% eugenol and 7% DEET + 2% methyl eugenol showed the best results, with average repellent efficacy exceeding 85%. The first combination was selected for field evaluation. In this test, volunteers wore treated socks and walked for two hours in a naturally infested area. A significant reduction (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the number of ticks recovered from the socks was observed in the 7% DEET and 7% DEET + 1% eugenol treatments, with efficacies of 82.5% and 88.5%, respectively, after 120 min. Isolated eugenol showed limited field efficacy, with significant repellent activity (<i>p</i> < 0.05) lasting only 20 min. The results highlight the potential of eugenol and methyl eugenol as repellent compounds, especially when combined with DEET. The field study confirmed the efficacy of the 7% DEET + 1% eugenol.
ISSN:2076-0817

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