This paper reports the pediculicidal activity of certain monoterpenoids of plant essential oils compared to several anti-head lice formulations. It also reports the molecular features required for a chemical to kill head lice. Live adult Pediculus humanus capitus were collected from children living in the Qabary area, Alexandria, Egypt and used in in vitro bioassays. The data demonstrated that the commercial formulation, Quick (0.5% malathion) was the most potent formulation against head lice, while Para plus was the least potent. It was clear that the potency of the tested monoterpenoids was at least similar to Quick. The data also revealed that, monoterpenoid phenols and alcohols were more potent against head lice than monoterpenoid aldehydes, esters and acyclic monoterpenoids. One of the molecular features that is evidently important for monoterpenoid toxicity against head lice is the presence of electronegative group such as a hydroxyl group. In conclusion, this study reports an alternative chemical control that is safer, and more effective against head lice.
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Pathogens
December 2024
Department of Medical Microbiology, Acibadem University School of Medicine, Istanbul 34752, Türkiye.
Head lice infestation (HLI), caused by De Geer, 1767, has long been a common global problem of school children. Permethrin is an old pyrethroid derivative that has been used commonly for its treatment, and it exerts its activity over the voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCC) of the lice. There has been a growing list of persistent HLI cases lately in the world among patients using permethrin, and knockdown resistance (kdr)-related point mutations on VSCC have been identified and reported from those resistant lice samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPediatr Infect Dis J
December 2024
From the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics.
Bartonella quintana is a rare but important cause of culture-negative endocarditis, classically associated with body lice infestation. We report the first known pediatric case of Bartonella quintana endocarditis associated with head lice. The importance of sending targeted testing for this organism in at-risk patients, ideally on tissue specimens, is emphasized.
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