Head louse control by suffocation due to blocking their oxygen uptake.

Abstract

The present study shows that head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are killed by suffocation when submersed into the anti-louse shampoo Licener®, which contains a mild shampoo component and an extract of neem seeds after their oil components had been pressed off. It is shown that the inner tracheal system becomes completely filled by the very fluid product. Within 3-10 min, oxygen uptake is prohibited and death of all thus treated lice stages occurred.

• Authors: Saleh Al-Quraishy, Fathy Abdel-Ghaffar, Heinz Mehlhorn
• Journal: Parasitology research (Parasitol Res) Vol. 114 Issue 8 Pg. 3105-10 (Aug 2015) ISSN: 1432-1955 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 25990060 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Insecticides
• Plant Extracts
• Oxygen

Topics

• Animals
• Azadirachta (chemistry)
• Insecticides (pharmacology)
• Oxygen
• Pediculus (drug effects)
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Seeds (chemistry)