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Adjunctive Agent for Treating Scabies: In vitro Killing Activity of Permethrin and Tea Tree Oil on Sarcoptes scabiei
1Çukurova University, Karaisalı Vocational School, Adana, Turkey
Objective:
Recently, there has been a serious increase in cases of scabies. The number of patients who do not benefit from the current treatment agents is also quite high. There are publications showing that scabies mites are permethrin-resistant and ivermectin. The treatment with scabicides usually lasts for several hours and usually the treatment is repeated for at least another time, which reduces the patient's compliance with the treatment, especially in pediatric patients where the toxic effects of the products are more pronounced. Therefore there is a need for treatment modalities that are less toxic to humans. To observe the in vitro effect of tea tree oil (TTO) on S. scabiei and to compare it with those of permethrin.
Methods:
Scabies specimens were removed from the patient and examined using a digital microscope. Parasites that were not damaged during sampling, and showed full motion were included in the study. No treatment was applied to the patients before removal of the mites. A total of 40 parasites were included in the study, with 10 parasites in each group. Immersion oil was applied to the control group, 5% permethrin to the first treatment group, while 5% and 25% TTO were used for the second and third study groups.
Results:
The mean survival time (ST) of scabies mites in the 5% permethrin group was 350±31.3 min, while this for 5% TTO group 180±15.1 min and 120±13.3 min in the 25% TTO group. The mean ST of the sarcoptes in the control group was 2.820±90 min. The mean ST between the control, permethrin and TTO groups was statistically significant (p=0.03). ST between 5% and 25% TTO groups was also statistically significant (p=0.04). There were no statistical differences between permethrin and 5% or 25% TTO.
Conclusion:
TTO has an acaricidal effect on S. scabiei. Although not used as the treatment of choise, it can be used as a supportive agent. Since it shows an acaricidal effect within a short time, it could be used as a shampoo or shower gel to enhance the acaricidal activity of another scabicide.
Insights
Tea tree oil (TTO) demonstrates an acaricidal effect against scabies mites, offering a potential alternative or supportive treatment. This study found TTO effective in reducing mite survival time compared to controls and permethrin.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Parasitology
- Natural Product Research
Background:
- Scabies cases are increasing, with high rates of treatment failure due to permethrin and ivermectin resistance.
- Current scabicides have lengthy application times and require repeat treatments, leading to poor patient compliance, especially in children.
- There is a critical need for safer, more effective scabicides with reduced toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro acaricidal efficacy of tea tree oil (TTO) against Sarcoptes scabiei.
- To compare the effectiveness of TTO with permethrin, a standard scabicide.
Main Methods:
- Scabies mites were collected from patients and examined under a digital microscope.
- Mites were divided into four groups: control (immersion oil), permethrin (5%), TTO (5%), and TTO (25%).
- Survival time of mites in each group was recorded and statistically analyzed.
Main Results:
- The mean survival time of S. scabiei mites was significantly reduced by both 5% and 25% TTO compared to the control group (p=0.03).
- The 25% TTO group showed a significantly shorter survival time than the 5% TTO group (p=0.04).
- No statistically significant difference in mite survival time was observed between permethrin and either TTO concentration.
Conclusions:
- Tea tree oil exhibits significant in vitro acaricidal activity against S. scabiei mites.
- TTO can be considered a supportive treatment for scabies, potentially incorporated into shampoos or gels.
- Further research may explore TTO's role in enhancing the efficacy of conventional scabicides.
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