An improved bioassay facilitates the screening of repellents against cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)
Journal
Pest management Science
Journal Volume
70
Journal Issue
2
Pages
264-270
Date Issued
2014-02
Author(s)
Li-Chong Su
Chin-Gi Huang
Shang-Tzen Chang
Shu-Hui Yang
Shan-hui Hsu
Wen-Jer Wu
Rong-Nan Huang
Abstract
BACKGROUNDRepellents are a common method for preventing flea bites, making an effective system for flea repellent screening advantageous. We describe an improved technique to facilitate repellent activity screening of numerous plant-based Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) repellents.
RESULTSTwo long strips of filter paper were impregnated with test compounds (dissolved in ethanol) and ethanol only, respectively. After drying, the two filter papers were glued together along the long side and inserted into a glass tube containing non-fed cat fleas. The distribution of cat fleas in each half of the filter paper was recorded after 30 min to calculate repellency. Results showed that the essential oil of Cinnamomum osmophloeum (from leaf), Taiwania cryptomerioides (from heartwood) and Plectranthus amboinicus (from leaf) exhibits repellent activity against cat fleas in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, the repellent activities against cat fleas of 2% trans-cinnamaldehyde (the main constituent of Ci. osmophloeum essential oil) and 0.5% thymol (the main constituent of P. amboinicus essential oil) are 97.6% and 90.6%, and can persist for up to 4 and 8 h, respectively. These results are comparable to those of 15% DEET.
CONCLUSIONThe proposed screening technique can facilitate the pre-screening of numerous flea repellents for further evaluation on animal or human subjects. (c) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Subjects
Ctenocephalides felis
Cinnamomum osmophloeum
essential oil
repellent
trans-cinnamaldehyde
thymol
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Type
journal article