Contact toxicity and residual activity of different permethrin-based fabric impregnation methods for Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae), Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae), and Lepisma saccharina (Thysanura: Lepismatidae).

Abstract

The effectiveness and residual activities of permethrin-impregnated military battle dress uniforms were evaluated by comparing a new company-manufactured ready-to-use polymer-coating method with two "dipping methods" that are currently used to treat uniforms. Residual permethrin amounts and remaining contact toxicities on treated fabrics before and after up to 100 launderings were tested against Aedes aegypti (L.), Ixodes ricinus (L.), and Lepisma saccharina (L.). The residual amount of permethrin was considerably higher with the polymer-coating method: 280 mg a.i./m2 after 100 launderings, compared with 16 and 11 mg a.i./m2, respectively, obtained when using the two dipping methods. Hard ticks were most susceptible to the new polymer-coating method, resulting in prelaundering 100% knockdown times of 7.0 +/- 0.9 min, whereas equivalent times for the dipping methods were 7.9 +/- 0.35 min and 8.0 +/- 0.54 min, respectively. After 100 launderings, 100% knockdown of I. ricinus nymphs was reached at 15.2 +/- 1.04 min using the polymer-coating method, compared with 178.8 +/- 24.7 min and 231 +/- 53.6 min, respectively, using the dipping methods. Similar results were obtained for Ae. aegypti and L. saccharina, indicating that the polymer-coating method is more effective and efficient when compared with the dipping methods.