Repellency Effect of Essential Oils of some Native Plants and Synthetic Repellents against Human Flea, (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae).

Background: Fleas are important vectors of human and animal disease, and control measures for protection against their bites and flea-borne diseases are necessary.

Methods: The essential oils (EOs) of four native medicinal plants, , , and were isolated by hydrodistillation technique and analyzed by GC-MC. The repellent activity of EOs and synthetic compounds, DEET and permethrin, were assayed on human subjects against field collected fleas.