Tick Repellents for Human Use: Prevention of Tick Bites and Tick-Borne Diseases

Abstract

Ticks are arthropods and the most important vectors of major human diseases after mosquitoes. Due to their impact on public health, in vitro and in vivo assays have been developed to identify molecules with repellent activities on ticks. Repellents are useful to reduce tick bite exposure and the potential transmission of pathogens; they can be used topically or in impregnated clothing. Presently, mainly synthetic molecules are commercialized as skin repellents, e.g., N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), IR3535, picaridin or KBR 3023, and para-menthanediol. Permethrin is largely used for fabric impregnation. Intensive research has been conducted to identify new molecules with repellent activity and more recently, plant-derived molecules, as an alternative to synthetic molecules.

Diagnosis and Management of Tickborne Rickettsial Diseases: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Other Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses, Ehrlichioses, and Anaplasmosis — United States

“…Repellents can reduce the risk for tick bites from numerous tick species (312)(313)(314)(315)(316)(317)(318)(319)(320). Various repellent products registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are available and can be applied to exposed skin and clothing to repel ticks and prevent tick bites.…”

“…Products with 20%-30% DEET are considered optimal for protection against most tick species (321), and concentrations >50% do not confer additional protection (320). IR3535 (3-[N-Butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester) and picaridin (1-piperidinecaboxylic acid, 2-[2-hydroxyethyl], 1-methlypropyl ester) at concentrations >15% can repel as well as DEET when applied to skin (315,(322)(323)(324)(325) and are considered effective DEET alternatives.…”

Methods to Prevent Tick Bites and Lyme Disease

“…35,36 Other repellent options for prevention of bites include IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus/p-methane-3, 8-diol in the United States and Canada. [37][38][39] Importantly, all products registered in the United States (by the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]) and Canada (by Health Canada) have been subjected to a stringent regulatory evaluation, and hence, have a favorable safety profile. The corollary is that products that have not been subjected to this process, including those purported to be natural, might present unacceptable risks-whether because they fail to prevent bites or because they have not been adequately screened for safety.…”

Borréliose de Lyme : impact de l’homme sur la persistance et la circulation de Borrelia Burgdorferi sensu lato dans l’environnement

“…Les huiles essentielles sont peu ou pas recommandées car très volatiles, leur effet répulsif est limité (20 minutes à une heure). Par ailleurs, certains composés de ces huiles essentielles sont des irritants de la peau (citral, farnésol, trans-2-hexenal) ou carcinogène (eugénol) (Pages et al 2014).…”