In vitro activity of ten essential oils against Sarcoptes scabiei

Background: the development of alternative approaches in ectoparasite management is currently required. essential oils have been demonstrated to exhibit fumigant and topical toxicity to a number of arthropods. the aim of the present study was to assess the potential efficacy of ten essential oils against sarcoptes scabiei. methods: the major chemical components of the oils were identified by gc-ms analysis. contact and fumigation bioassays were performed on sarcoptes mites collected from experimentally infected pigs. for contact bioassays,essential oils were diluted with paraffin to get concentrations at 10,5,and even 1% for the most efficient ones. the mites were inspected under a stereomicroscope 10,20,30,40,50,60,90,120,150,and 180min after contact. for fumigation bioassay,a filter paper was treated with 100 μl of the pure essential oil. the mites were inspected under a stereomicroscope for the first 5min,and then every 5min until 1h. results: using contact bioassays,1% clove and palmarosa oil killed all the mites within 20 and 50min,respectively. the oils efficacy order was: clove > palmarosa > geranium > tea tree > lavender > manuka > bitter orange > eucalyptus > japanese cedar. in fumigation bioassays,the efficacy order was: tea tree > clove > eucalyptus > lavender > palmarosa > geranium > japanese cedar > bitter orange > manuka. in both bioassays,cade oil showed no activity. conclusion: essential oils,especially tea tree,clove,palmarosa,and eucalyptus oils,are potential complementary or alternative products to treat s. scabiei infections in humans or animals,as well as to control the mites in the environment. © 2016 the author(s).