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
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/495
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author 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
author_facet 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
author_sort Mayara Macêdo Barrozo
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-28a4ebb49385451d94c317c1a6e582d12025-08-20T03:14:43ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-05-0114549510.3390/pathogens14050495Repellent Activity of DEET Combined with Botanical Compounds Against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> Nymphs: Laboratory and Field EvaluationsMayara Macêdo Barrozo0Haile Dean Figueiredo Chagas1Gabrielly Bernardes Rodrigues Damaceno2Emilly Faria Santos3Rafael Assunção Carvalho4Isabela Santos Silva5Francisca Letícia Vale6Lainny Jordana Martins Pereira e Sousa7Hermes Ribeiro Luz8Lorena Lopes Ferreira9Caio Monteiro10Centro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnica, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Av. Esperança, s/n—Campus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, BrazilCentro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnica, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Av. Esperança, s/n—Campus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, BrazilLaboratory of Nanosystems and Drug Delivery Devices (NanoSYS), School of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rua 240, Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia 74605-170, GO, BrazilCentro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnica, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Av. Esperança, s/n—Campus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, BrazilCentro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnica, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Av. Esperança, s/n—Campus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, BrazilCentro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnica, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Av. Esperança, s/n—Campus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, BrazilCentro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnica, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Av. Esperança, s/n—Campus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, BrazilCentro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnica, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Av. Esperança, s/n—Campus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, BrazilDepartamento de Patologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia do Renorbio, Ponto Focal Maranhão, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís 65085-580, MA, BrazilDepartamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627 Caixa Postal 567, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, BrazilCentro de Parasitologia Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnica, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Av. Esperança, s/n—Campus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, BrazilThis 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/495<i>Amblyomma cajennense</i> complexbotanical productsessential oilseugenolmethyl eugenol1,8-cineole
spellingShingle 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
Repellent Activity of DEET Combined with Botanical Compounds Against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> Nymphs: Laboratory and Field Evaluations
Pathogens
<i>Amblyomma cajennense</i> complex
botanical products
essential oils
eugenol
methyl eugenol
1,8-cineole
title Repellent Activity of DEET Combined with Botanical Compounds Against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> Nymphs: Laboratory and Field Evaluations
title_full Repellent Activity of DEET Combined with Botanical Compounds Against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> Nymphs: Laboratory and Field Evaluations
title_fullStr Repellent Activity of DEET Combined with Botanical Compounds Against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> Nymphs: Laboratory and Field Evaluations
title_full_unstemmed Repellent Activity of DEET Combined with Botanical Compounds Against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> Nymphs: Laboratory and Field Evaluations
title_short Repellent Activity of DEET Combined with Botanical Compounds Against <i>Amblyomma sculptum</i> Nymphs: Laboratory and Field Evaluations
title_sort repellent activity of deet combined with botanical compounds against i amblyomma sculptum i nymphs laboratory and field evaluations
topic <i>Amblyomma cajennense</i> complex
botanical products
essential oils
eugenol
methyl eugenol
1,8-cineole
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/495
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