Study summary
Activity of the plant-based repellent TT-4302 against the ticks Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes scapularis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus
Bissinger BW, Apperson CS, Watson DW, Arellano C, Sonenshine DE, Roe RM
Read the original paper- Study type
- Lab
- Year
- 2014
- Species tested
- Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes scapularis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus
- Published in
- Experimental and Applied Acarology 62(1):105–113
- Evidence strength
- Limited evidence
How it was tested
Two-choice bioassays on treated versus untreated filter paper scored repellency against four tick species at 2.5 and 3.5 hours after treatment.
Summary
The tick companion to the TT-4302 mosquito study, testing the same 5% geraniol repellent against four tick species versus 15% DEET in laboratory choice tests.
Key findings
TT-4302 was essentially fully repellent, near 100%, to all four tick species at both time points, statistically indistinguishable from 15% DEET where the two were compared head to head. As with the mosquito study this is filter-paper choice-testing rather than on-skin duration, the DEET comparator was 15%, and the authors have a commercial tie to the product.
Limitations
A filter-paper choice test rather than skin, only two time points, a low-dose DEET comparator, and commercial ties to the formulation.