Sand Fly (Phlebotomus papatasi) repellency by components of essential oils conditionally exempt from EPA registration as minimum risk pesticide products under 40 CFR 152.25(f)

Authors: Temeyer, Kevin; Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto; Schlechte, Kristie; HUERTA, MARY - Department Of Energy

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/26/2018
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi, is a principal vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in tropical and subtropical regions of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Asia, and is a significant threat to deployed U.S.A. military personnel in these regions. Strategies to prevent leishmaniasis focus on minimizing the exposure of military personnel to bites by sand flies infected with Leishmania species to disrupt pathogen transmission. Mechanical barriers such as screening or netting, pesticide-impregnated uniforms, and personal repellents such as DEET are among the technologies currently used for sand fly control. However, spatial and area-wide repellents and insecticides need to be developed for use in integrated sand fly control programs. Additionally, ultra low volume spraying of insecticides is practiced, but the arsenal of available insecticides is limited and effectiveness is dependent on environmental conditions. Potential toxicity to personnel limits the use of certain insecticides as indoor residual sprays (IRS) within military quarters (barracks, tents, domiciles). Essential oils have shown promise as insecticides or repellents, and several are commercially available. Several essential oils are conditionally exempt from EPA registration as minimum risk pesticide products under 40 CFR 152.25(f). Here, we report our laboratory results showing that some of the essential oils tested, and their major components, exhibit greater repellent or insecticidal activity against P. papatasi than DEET. These essential oils are considered as minimal risk to humans due to a long history of use in foods.

Technical Abstract: The sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi, is a principal vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in tropical and subtropical regions of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Asia, and is a significant threat to deployed military personnel in these regions. Strategies to prevent leishmaniasis focus on minimizing the exposure of military personnel to bites by sand flies infected with Leishmania species to disrupt pathogen transmission. Mechanical barriers such as screening or netting, pesticide-impregnated uniforms, and personal repellents such as DEET are among the technologies currently used for sand fly control. However, spatial and area-wide repellents and insecticides need to be developed for use in integrated sand fly control programs. Additionally, ultra low volume spraying of insecticides is practiced, but the arsenal of available insecticides is limited and effectiveness is dependent on environmental conditions. Potential toxicity to personnel limits the use of certain insecticides as indoor residual sprays (IRS) within military quarters (barracks, tents, domiciles). Essential oils have shown promise as insecticides or repellents, and several are commercially available. Several essential oils are conditionally exempt from EPA registration as minimum risk pesticide products under 40 CFR 152.25(f). Here, we report our laboratory results showing that some of the conditionally exempt essential oils tested, and their major components, exhibit greater repellent or insecticidal activity against P. papatasi than DEET. These essential oils are considered as minimal risk to humans due to a long history of use in foods, and their inclusion as minimum risk pesticide products exempt from EPA registration under 40 CFR 152.25(f) may facilitate their use to protect deployed military personnel from sand flies and other arthropod vectors of human and animal disease.