A comparison of botanical and synthetic substances commonly used to prevent head lice (<i>Pediculus humanus</i> var. <i>capitis</i>) infestation

Canyon, Deon; Speare, Rick

doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2007.03132.x

Cited by 36 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Components of some essential oils such as 1,8-cineole (Toloza et al 2008), anisole (Toloza et al 2006; 2008) and chavibetol (Bagavan et al 2011) have also been shown to be possible candidates. One in vitro study found that several commercially available products including DEET did not show sufficient efficacy to discourage head lice transmission to be endorsed (Canyon and Speare 2007). Another in vitro study found that DEET, icaridin, and IR 3535 only discouraged head lice for 2 h when applied to hair, while three commercial products, Linicin Preventive Spray (Semmler et al 2011) formerly named Licatack Preventive Spray (Semmler et al 2010, 2011) containing paramenthandiol (PMD) and an extract of the Vitex agnus-castus plant, as well as Picksan NoLice containing PMD and a neem seed extract (Semmler et al 2011), discouraged head lice for a prolonged period of time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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In vitro comparison of four treatments which discourage infestation by head lice

Greive¹,

Barnes²

2011

Parasitol Res

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Products which discourage the transmission of head lice are appealing; however, few studies have tested this concept. This study aims to test the efficacy of four commercial products which claim to discourage infestation by head lice; MOOV Head Lice Defence Spray (MOOV), Wild Child Quit Nits Head Lice Defence Spray (Wild Child), 100% Natural Head Lice Beater (Lice Beater) or Lysout Natural Anti-Lice Spray (Lysout). An in vitro challenge test was used. Briefly, one half of a filter paper lining the base of a petri dish was treated with the test product. Lice were then introduced to the centre of the dish, which was covered and placed in the dark at 20°C for 30 min. The number of lice on the treated and untreated sides of the filter paper was then counted after 2, 4 and 8 h post-application. MOOV was significantly more effective at discouraging the transmission of lice than the water control (p < 0.01), while Wild Child and Lysout were not at all time points. Lice Beater was significantly worse than the water control after 2 h (p < 0.01), while there was no difference after 4 and 8 h. MOOV was found to perform significantly better than Wild Child (p < 0.05) and Lice Beater (p < 0.05) at all time points. It also performed significantly better than Lysout at 2 (p < 0.05) and 8 h (p < 0.05), but not 4 h. MOOV offers the best efficacy and consistency of performance of the four products tested to discourage the transmission of head lice.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, successful treatments are usually short lived as reinfestation is almost guaranteed if associates of the treated person (and their associates) are not treated concurrently (Canyon and Speare 2007). Discouraging head lice transmission is thus important to reduce infestation opportunities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vitro comparison of four treatments which discourage infestation by head lice

Greive¹,

Barnes²

2011

Parasitol Res

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“…Tea tree oil is reported to have a wide variety of biological properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and insecticidal activities (Gould 1997) with interesting applicative prospects. The insecticidal properties (Williamson et al 2007; Heukelbach et al 2008) could be useful in the treatment of larvae in strikes, the repellent effects (Canyon and Speare 2007b; Eamsobhana et al 2009; Maguranyi et al 2009) could protect against new strikes or restrikes, and the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities (Carson et al 2006) can favor wound healing (Woollard et al 2007). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Activity of tea tree oil and nerolidol alone or in combination against Pediculus capitis (head lice) and its eggs

Campli

Bartolomeo

Pizzi³

et al. 2012

Parasitol Res

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Head lice infestation is an emerging social problem in undeveloped and developed countries. Because of louse resistance increasing, several long-used insecticidal compounds have lost their efficacy, and alternatives, such as essential oils, have been proposed to treat this parasitic infestation. The present study investigated the efficacy of two natural substances: tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil and nerolidol (3,7,11-trimethyl-1,6,10-dodecatrien-3-ol) against lice and its eggs. Products were used alone and in combination (ratio 1:1 and 1:2) from 8 % dilution. The in vitro effect of natural substances at different concentrations were evaluated against 69 head lice (adults and nymphs) and 187 louse eggs collected from school children in Chieti–Pescara (Central Italy) over a 6-month period. The lice mortality was evaluated for 24 h by a stereo light microscope. The ovicidal activity was monitored by microscopic inspections for 15 days. Tea tree oil was more effective than nerolidol against head lice with 100 % mortality at 30 min and 1 % concentration. On the contrary, nerolidol expressed a more pronounced ovicidal activity inducing the failure of 50 % of the eggs to hatch at 1 % concentration after 4 days; the same effect was achieved by using a twice concentration of tea tree oil. The association of the two substances both in ratios 1:1 and 1:2 combined efficaciously their insecticidal and ovicidal effect; in particular, the ratio 1:2 (tea tree oil 0.5 % plus nerolidol 1 %) acted producing both the death of all head lice at 30 min and the abortive effect of louse eggs after 5 days. These results offer new potential application of natural compounds and display a promising scenario in the treatment of pediculosis resistant cases. The development of novel pediculicides containing essential oils could be, in fact, an important tool to control the parasitic infestation.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00436-012-3045-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Other less commonly used treatments include specialised combs that electrocute lice and equipment to kill lice using hot air [3,4]. Head lice repellents, although lacking studies to demonstrate efficacy, are being increasingly sought to prevent transmission [5]. Research on pediculosis has focused on treatment strategies and social aspects have been largely ignored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes Towards Pediculosis Treatments in Teenagers

Canyon¹,

Canyon²,

Milani³

et al. 2014

TODJ

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Abstract:Research on pediculosis has focused on treatment strategies and social aspects have been largely ignored. Pediculosis and its treatment in are associated with negative emotional responses while in developing countries pediculosis and its treatment may provide more an opportunity for positive social bonding. Attitudes to pediculosis have been proposed as important to successful control. Previous studies in Australia found that parents of primary school children say they treat pediculosis once it has been detected. This study retrospectively investigated attitudes towards treatment in teenage high school students in an attempt to collect information from those afflicted rather than from parents. Only participants with a history of pediculosis were recruited from a high school in Western Australia and they were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. The sample contained 128 Grade 8 and 9 students, aged 13-15 years old with an even gender split. Negative feelings towards being treated for head lice were observed in 41.5% of males and 54.7% of females and 49.5% of Caucasians and 40% of Asians. Anti-treatment sentiment was expressed by 19.7% of males and 10.9% of females. Shampooing with and without combing were the most preferred treatments overall.The results showed that 63.6% male and 52.7% female high school students were in favour of head lice treatments. This low percentage indicates that current treatments for head lice require improvement to be made more acceptable and that alternative treatments that are less unpleasant need to be developed. Strategies need to be explored to make treatment of pediculosis a more positive emotional experience.

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A comparison of botanical and synthetic substances commonly used to prevent head lice (Pediculus humanus var. capitis) infestation

Abstract: Neither DEET nor any of the botanicals tested showed sufficient preventative efficacy to be endorsed.

Cited by 36 publications

References 8 publications

In vitro comparison of four treatments which discourage infestation by head lice

In vitro comparison of four treatments which discourage infestation by head lice

Activity of tea tree oil and nerolidol alone or in combination against Pediculus capitis (head lice) and its eggs

Attitudes Towards Pediculosis Treatments in Teenagers

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