Efficacy of the new repellent BioUD® against three species of ixodid ticks

Abstract

BioUD with the active ingredient 2-undecanone originally derived from wild tomato plants is a new repellent recently registered by the US EPA. Repellent efficacy of BioUD (7.75% 2-undecanone) and DEET (98.11%) was examined in the laboratory using a choice test between repellent-treated and control filter paper surfaces for Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis. BioUD provided greater repellency against A. americanum and I. scapularis than DEET. No difference was found between BioUD and DEET against D. variabilis. In head-to-head assays between BioUD and DEET, undiluted and 50% dilutions of BioUD were more repellent than undiluted DEET against all three species tested. Similarly, a 25% dilution of BioUD was more repellent than DEET against A. americanum while no difference in mean percentage repellency was found between a 25% dilution of BioUD and DEET against I. scapularis. Based on regression analysis, the concentration of BioUD required for equivalent repellency to 98.11% DEET was 39.5% for D. variabilis and 29.7% for I. scapularis. A log-probit model could not be constructed for A. americanum from the dosages tested. Based on filter paper head-to-head assays, BioUD is at least 2-4 times more active as a repellent than DEET against three species of ixodid ticks under the conditions of our laboratory bioassays.

Comparative Efficacy of BioUD to Other Commercially Available Arthropod Repellents against the Ticks Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis on Cotton Cloth

“…Previously we found that BioUD provided significantly greater mean percentage repellency than 98.1% DEET against A. americanum and equivalent repellency to 98.1% DEET against D. variabilis on treated filter paper compared with untreated controls. 19 Similar results were found in this study when comparing BioUD to 98.1% DEET against D. variabilis, but mean percentage repellency did not differ between BioUD and DEET for A. americanum . Additionally, whereas BioUD was more repellent than DEET for both species in head-to-head trials on filter paper, 19 no difference was found for either species in head-to-head trials on cotton cloth.…”

“…19 Similar results were found in this study when comparing BioUD to 98.1% DEET against D. variabilis, but mean percentage repellency did not differ between BioUD and DEET for A. americanum . Additionally, whereas BioUD was more repellent than DEET for both species in head-to-head trials on filter paper, 19 no difference was found for either species in head-to-head trials on cotton cloth. This suggests that DEET may bind better to cotton cloth than to filter paper.…”

“…18 BioUD also provided significantly greater percentage repellency than 98.1% DEET against adult A. americanum and blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say, in choice bioassays on treated filter paper compared with untreated controls. 19 One common use of repellents is their application to clothing. The longevity of arthropod repellents can be increased with application to clothing rather than to human skin.…”

Olfaction in vector-host interactions

“…The basis for naturally 'tick-resistant' breeds or species of hosts appears to be related to host immune response (Martinez et al 2006), however, differences in volatile emissions (Weldon and Carroll 2007), if present, provide potential compounds useful for livestock protection. Plant-based compounds evaluated against ticks may provide new active ingredients for protection of human and even livestock (Bissinger et al 2009, Dietrich et al 2006, Feaster et al 2009, Palsson et al 2008.…”

Elemol and amyris oil repel the ticks Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) in laboratory bioassays

“…With the arrival of alternatives to deet-based products (e. g., picaridin, IR3535) in recent years, there has been a growing interest in discovery of tick repellents from natural sources (e.g. Jaenson et al 2005, Tunón et al 2006, Garboui et al 2007, Carroll et al 2007, Bissinger et a. 2009).…”