In-vivo and in-vitro tick repellent properties of cotton fabric

Abstract

N,N-diethyl- m-toluamide (DEET) and eucalyptol were encapsulated by β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) using the kneading method at four different molar ratios. The products were applied to 100% cotton fabric through the impregnation method. Fourier transform infrared and differential scanning calorimetry analysis results confirmed that the inclusion complex occurred between β-CD and repellent agents at mole ratios of 1:3 and 1:2 for eucalyptol and DEET, respectively. The experiments carried out on Hyalomma marginatum showed that DEET and eucalyptol treated fabrics repel, inhibit and kill blood-feeding Hyalomma marginatum ticks in-vivo and in-vitro for a period of at least 48 and 72 hours under laboratory conditions. In-vitro essay showed good repellent activities for both DEET and eucalyptol. The results show that eucalyptol has more repellent effect than DEET. In the case of the in-vivo essay, a single washing cycle of eucalyptol: β-CD-treated fabric showed repellent activity.