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A natural barrier: tick-repellent potential of a spruce-derived volatile blend against Hyalomma excavatum and Ixodes ricinus

Martyn J. Wood Orcid Logo, Sare I. Yavaşoğlu Orcid Logo, James Bull Orcid Logo, Serkan Bakırcı, Kanagasooriyam Kanagachandran, Tariq Butt Orcid Logo

Pest Management Science

Swansea University Authors: James Bull Orcid Logo, Tariq Butt Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1002/ps.70296

Abstract

Ixodes ricinus and Hyalomma excavatum are two widely dispersed vectors of pathogens, including those that cause Lyme disease and Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever in the human population. Recently developed, plant-derived, mosquito-repellent blends have shown promise against other vector clades, and...

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Published in: Pest Management Science
ISSN: 1526-498X 1526-4998
Published: Wiley 2025
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70604
Abstract: Ixodes ricinus and Hyalomma excavatum are two widely dispersed vectors of pathogens, including those that cause Lyme disease and Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever in the human population. Recently developed, plant-derived, mosquito-repellent blends have shown promise against other vector clades, and this study assesses these blends as potential tick repellents. Blends of (+)-borneol, bornyl acetate, eugenol, isoeugenol and camphor were assessed in two formats: blends 3 and 4. Ticks were assessed using the moving object bioassay (Ixodes) or a dual-choice behavioural assay (Hyalomma). Both blends were compared against negative controls and four commercially available synthetic repellents: N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-methylpropylstyrene 1-piperidine carboxylate) (Picaridin), 3-(N-n-butyl-N-acetyl)-amino-propionic acid ethyl ester (IR3535) and p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD). Results demonstrate the efficacies of blends 3 and 4; moreover, both were more effective than the commercial repellents (P < 0.05). Blend 3 was marginally more effective than blend 4, and differences in the repellent action were noted for each of the tick species, suggesting broad-spectrum vector-repellent activities, irrespective of life strategy. Overall, this work demonstrates the clear potential of blends 3 and 4 as tick repellents that offer an improved vector response over currently available commercial repellents. Furthermore, that the same repellent blends are capable of tick repellency in addition to mosquito repellency, offers the potential for widely dispersed usage across a range of integrated vector management strategies.
Item Description: In press
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Funders: Agor ip; Rentokil initial plc

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