Protective efficacy of permethrin-treated trousers against tick infestation in forestry workers

Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2014, Vol 21, Issue 4

Abstract

[b]introduction and objective.[/b] Prevention of tick borne diseases in forestry workers is essentially based on the use of appropriate clothing. The objective of this pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial was to assess the potential benefit of permethrin-treated working trousers for the prevention of tick infestation during forestry work. [b]materials and methods[/b]. N=164 male forestry workers were equipped for a period of 16 weeks with permethrin-treated (intervention group – I) or untreated work trousers (control group – II). Subgroups, according to the use of trousers with (I-1, II-1) or without cut protection lining (I-2, II-2) were constituted. Tick infestation (quantity of ticks on the body surface) was assessed by questionnaire after 16 workdays. Control and intervention groups were compared by calculating the infestation rate (percentage of subjects with ticks) and the average number of ticks per workday. [b]results[/b]. The infestation rate in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group (36.6 vs. 63.4%, p=0.001; Fisher-test). Further analysis revealed a significant reduction of tick infestation by permethrin treatment only for subjects wearing trousers without the cut protection lining (I-2: 34.2 vs. II-2: 80.0%, p<0.001), while users of cut protection trousers did not benefit from such treated trousers (I-1: 38.6 vs. II-1: 47.6%, n.s.). Similar results were found for comparisons based on the average number of ticks per workday. [b]conclusions.[/b] The use of permethrin-treated trousers does not completely prevent tick infestations. Improvement of tick protection has been shown only for some applications, but not in general. Additional prevention measures are therefore still indispensable.

Authors and Affiliations

Bernd Roßbach, Peter Kegel, Ulrike Zier, Adrian Niemietz, Stephan Letzel

Keywords

Related Articles

Risk factors of postural defects in children at school age

Introduction and objective: Postural defects increasingly more often concern children and adolescents at school age. The lack of prophylaxis and neglecting adequate procedures may lead to limitations of physical and moto...

Life quality of women with breast cancer after mastectomy or breast conserving therapy treated with adjuvant chemotherapy

[b]Introduction.[/b] Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant neoplasm in women. The evaluation of the quality of life has become a treatment parameter as important as survival. [b]Objective. [/b]The aim of the stu...

Anti-epileptic drugs inhibit viability of synoviocytes in vitro

Introduction and objective: The hyperplasia of synovial fibroblasts is considered to be essential for the evolution of joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previously, we reported that anti-rheumatic drugs, bo...

Plant pollen content in the air of Lublin (central-eastern Poland) and risk of pollen allergy

Pollen monitoring was carried out in Lublin in 2001–2012 by the volumetric method using a Hirst-type spore trap (Lanzoni VPPS 2000). Daily pollen concentrations considerably differed in the particular years. The pollen c...

Effect of spa physiotherapy on the range of motion and muscle strength in women with gonarthrosis

Introduction: Degeneration arthritis is a chronic disease of undetermined progressiveness and unknown pathogenesis. It can affect one or more joints. It reveals itself most frequently between 40 – 60 years of age, and af...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP80866
  • DOI -
  • Views 154
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Bernd Roßbach, Peter Kegel, Ulrike Zier, Adrian Niemietz, Stephan Letzel (2014). Protective efficacy of permethrin-treated trousers against tick infestation in forestry workers. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 21(4), 712-717. https://www.europub.co.uk/articles/-A-80866