TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of permethrin-treated clothing to prevent tick exposure in foresters in the central Appalachian region of the USA
AU - Richards, Stephanie L.
AU - Balanay, Jo Anne G.
AU - Harris, Jonathan W.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Central Appalachian Regional Education and Research Center (University of Kentucky Research Foundation Subaward [grant number #3048109702-13-173]).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Taylor & Francis.
PY - 2015/7/4
Y1 - 2015/7/4
N2 - Outdoor workers are at risk from mosquito and tick bites and the extent to which exposures are linked to vector-borne disease is not understood. This pilot study characterizes for ester exposure to mosquitoes and ticks, and assesses effectiveness of permethrin-treated clothing for prevention of tick bites. Foresters (N = 34) from Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia were placed into treatment (permethrin-treated clothing) or control (untreated clothing) groups. Foresters completed questionnaires about work-related tick/mosquito exposure and 454 ticks were collected/identified from May to June 2013. A time-weighted analysis based on information submitted by foresters about time working outdoors showed that control participants received a lower rate of tick exposure (0.15 tick bites/hour; 13 bites/person) compared to treatment participants (0.27 bites/hour; 21 bites/person). However, more control participants (85 %) received at least one tick bite compared to treatment participants (52 %). Outdoor workers should be aware of available protective measures, such as permethrin-treated clothing, that may mitigate occupational risks.
AB - Outdoor workers are at risk from mosquito and tick bites and the extent to which exposures are linked to vector-borne disease is not understood. This pilot study characterizes for ester exposure to mosquitoes and ticks, and assesses effectiveness of permethrin-treated clothing for prevention of tick bites. Foresters (N = 34) from Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia were placed into treatment (permethrin-treated clothing) or control (untreated clothing) groups. Foresters completed questionnaires about work-related tick/mosquito exposure and 454 ticks were collected/identified from May to June 2013. A time-weighted analysis based on information submitted by foresters about time working outdoors showed that control participants received a lower rate of tick exposure (0.15 tick bites/hour; 13 bites/person) compared to treatment participants (0.27 bites/hour; 21 bites/person). However, more control participants (85 %) received at least one tick bite compared to treatment participants (52 %). Outdoor workers should be aware of available protective measures, such as permethrin-treated clothing, that may mitigate occupational risks.
KW - forester
KW - mosquito
KW - permethrin-treated clothing
KW - tick
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84931569571&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09603123.2014.963033
DO - 10.1080/09603123.2014.963033
M3 - Review article
C2 - 25290464
AN - SCOPUS:84931569571
SN - 0960-3123
VL - 25
SP - 453
EP - 462
JO - International Journal of Environmental Health Research
JF - International Journal of Environmental Health Research
IS - 4
ER -
