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Eucalyptus essential oil toxicity against permethrin-resistant Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae)

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Abstract

During the past decades, chemical control against the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer has been based in the application of products containing permethrin. The repetitive overuse of pediculicides has resulted in the development of high levels of resistance to one or more of these products worldwide. Essential oils obtained from aromatic plants like Eucalyptus are good and safe alternatives due to their low toxicity to mammals and easy biodegradability. In the present study, we reported the chemical composition of Eucalyptus dunnii and Eucalyptus gunni, and the fumigant activity of five Eucalyptus essential oils and their main compounds against permethrin-resistant head lice from Argentina. The most effective essential oils were Eucalyptus sideroxylon, Eucalyptus globulus ssp globulus, and Eucalyptus globulus ssp maidenii, with knockdown time 50% (KT50) values of 24.75, 27.73, and 31.39 min. A linear regression analysis between percentage of 1,8-Cineole and KT50 values of the essential oils showed a significant correlation at a p < 0.01. Since Eucalyptus essential oils showed to be effective against head lice and are classified as safer compounds, they can be employed into pediculicide formulations.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the authorities of the elementary schools where head lice were collected. This investigation received financial support from Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (Argentina), Laboratorio Elea (Buenos Aires), and CONICET (Argentina). The experiments in this work comply with the current laws of Argentina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigaciones de Plagas e Insecticidas (CITEFA/CONICET), Juan Bautista de La Salle 4397, B1603ALO, Villa Martelli, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Ariel C. Toloza, Alejandro Lucía, Eduardo Zerba, Hector Masuh & María Inés Picollo

  2. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad Nacional de General San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Eduardo Zerba & Hector Masuh

Authors
  1. Ariel C. Toloza
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  2. Alejandro Lucía
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  3. Eduardo Zerba
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  4. Hector Masuh
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  5. María Inés Picollo
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Correspondence to Ariel C. Toloza.

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Toloza, A.C., Lucía, A., Zerba, E. et al. Eucalyptus essential oil toxicity against permethrin-resistant Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae). Parasitol Res 106, 409–414 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1676-6

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