The efficacy of pediculicides in Israel

Fourteen pediculicides currently available in Israel were evaluated for their killing effect on the eggs, nymphs and adults from a laboratory-grown colony of body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus). The efficacy of all pediculicides was determined after a single treatment. The exposure time of the lice to the preparations was according to the manufacturers' instructions. The shampoo formulations Hafif (Abic, Israel), Pyracide (Fischer, Israel), A-200 Pyrinate (Norcliff Thayer, USA) and T-Pal (Fischer, Israel) killed 27-78% of the lice and 7-26% of the eggs. Prioderm (Rafa, Israel) shampoo 100% mortality of lice and 13% mortality of eggs. The gel formulation (A-200 Pyrinate) resulted in 100% mortality of lice and 42% mortality of eggs. The liquid formulation (Pyrinyl, Barre, USA) gave poor results with only 65% killing of lice and 26% of the eggs. The spray formulations (Kin-X and Kin-Soff, Milchan, France; and Ricide, Fischer) killed all the lice and 77-95% of the eggs. Lotion and solution formulations (Hafif; Monocide, Fischer; and Nouryl, Chefaro, Holland) caused 100% mortality of lice and 36-85% mortality of eggs. Mortality with control solutions varied between 4 and 16% for both lice and eggs.