{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T13:34:06Z","timestamp":1790948046923,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]],"date-time":"2023-06-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1687478400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand","award":["RU65201"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RU65201"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Head louse infestations remain a global public-health concern due to increased resistance of lice to artificial pediculicides. In Thailand, there is a lack of comparative data on the current efficacy of pediculicides for treating head lice. In this study, we explored the status of botanical and toxic synthetic pediculicides with that of 4% dimeticone liquid gel for treating head lice in Thailand. The <jats:italic>ex-vivo<\/jats:italic> pediculicidal activity of various pediculicidal shampoos available at drugstores in Thailand was assessed and compared with that of 4% dimeticone liquid gel. The shampoos chosen were based on active ingredients toxic to lice (1% permethrin, 0.6% carbaryl, 0.15% <jats:italic>Stemona<\/jats:italic> root crude extract, or mixed plant extracts), whereas dimeticone acts physically on lice. We found that exposure to 4% dimeticone liquid gel following the manufacturer\u2019s instructions completely killed 100% of head lice in 15 min, whereas other pediculicide products failed to kill the great majority of head lice, whether treatment was for 10 min (resulting in 0% to 50.0% mortality) or 30 min (resulting in 17.0% to 60.0% mortality). We also extended a clinical assessment to confirm the efficacy of 1% permethrin for treating head lice in infested schoolchildren. In this clinical assessment, none of the 26 children treated with 1% permethrin shampoo achieved a cure after two applications. These results highlight that 4% dimeticone demonstrated a higher <jats:italic>ex-vivo<\/jats:italic> pediculicidal efficacy compared to both chemical and botanical pediculicides in Thailand. Conversely, 1% permethrin showed low efficacy in both laboratory and clinical assessments. Given its physical mode of action, 4% dimeticone merits consideration as an alternative treatment option for lice in Thailand, particularly in cases where treatment with toxic pediculicides has proven ineffective.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0287616","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,24]],"date-time":"2023-06-24T21:43:50Z","timestamp":1687643030000},"page":"e0287616","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Comparative efficacy of chemical and botanical pediculicides in Thailand and 4% dimeticone against head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0514-687X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Manachai","family":"Yingklang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chadaporn Nuchjangreed","family":"Gordon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4553-4551","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Patchana Hengboriboonpong","family":"Jaidee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Phonpilas","family":"Thongpon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8187-7247","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Somchai","family":"Pinlaor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]]},"reference":[{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0287616.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1203","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ympev.2008.03.014","article-title":"What\u2019s in a name: the taxonomic status of human head and body lice","volume":"47","author":"JE Light","year":"2008","journal-title":"Mol Phylogenet Evol"},{"issue":"11","key":"pone.0287616.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1003724","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.ppat.1003724","article-title":"The biology and taxonomy of head and body lice\u2014implications for louse-borne disease prevention","volume":"9","author":"DL Bonilla","year":"2013","journal-title":"PLoS Pathog"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287616.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"290","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-019-3540-6","article-title":"Genetic diversity of human head lice and molecular detection of associated bacterial pathogens in Democratic Republic of Congo","volume":"12","author":"CS Boumbanda Koyo","year":"2019","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"209","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meegid.2014.01.017","article-title":"The origin and distribution of human lice in the world","volume":"23","author":"A Boutellis","year":"2014","journal-title":"Infect Genet Evol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287616.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-020-04036-y","article-title":"Molecular investigation and genetic diversity of Pediculus and Pthirus lice in France","volume":"13","author":"N Amanzougaghene","year":"2020","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104825","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meegid.2021.104825","article-title":"Phylogeography and demographic history of Thai Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequences","author":"M Yingklang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Infect Genet Evol"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-015-0742-4","article-title":"Molecular survey of the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis in Thailand and its potential role for transmitting Acinetobacter spp","volume":"8","author":"S Sunantaraporn","year":"2015","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0287616.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3125","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-020-06847-5","article-title":"Pediculosis capitis among school-age students worldwide as an emerging public health concern: a systematic review and meta-analysis of past five decades","volume":"119","author":"K Hatam-Nahavandi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Parasitol Res"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0287616.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1493","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1409.080368","article-title":"Worldwide prevalence of head lice","volume":"14","author":"ME Falagas","year":"2008","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0287616.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"778","DOI":"10.1016\/S2222-1808(16)61129-5","article-title":"Prevalence and factors of head lice infestation among primary school students in Northern Thailand","volume":"6","author":"W Ruankham","year":"2016","journal-title":"Asian Pac J Trop Dis"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0287616.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"499","DOI":"10.3347\/kjp.2019.57.5.499","article-title":"Prevalence and alternative treatment of head-lice infestation in rural Thailand: a community-based study","volume":"57","author":"OU Singhasivanon","year":"2019","journal-title":"Korean J Parasitol"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"474","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2019.00474","article-title":"Where Are We With Human Lice? A review of the current state of knowledge","volume":"9","author":"N Amanzougaghene","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front Cell Infect Microbiol"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref013","article-title":"Head lice","author":"D Nolt","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0287616.ref014","first-page":"635","article-title":"Lice and Scabies: Treatment Update","volume":"99","author":"K Gunning","year":"2019","journal-title":"Am Fam Physician"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105362","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actatropica.2020.105362","article-title":"Detection of permethrin resistance and phylogenetic clustering of turkish head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis; De Geer, 1767 populations","volume":"204","author":"M Karakus","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acta Trop"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0287616.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1698","DOI":"10.1093\/jme\/tjz101","article-title":"First determination of pyrethroid knockdown resistance alleles in human head lice (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) from Chile","volume":"56","author":"G Roca-Acevedo","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Med Entomol"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0287616.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"593","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijantimicag.2018.07.005","article-title":"Mutations in GluCl associated with field ivermectin-resistant head lice from Senegal","volume":"52","author":"N Amanzougaghene","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J Antimicrob Agents"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0287616.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1031","DOI":"10.1002\/ps.1979","article-title":"Determination of knockdown resistance allele frequencies in global human head louse populations using the serial invasive signal amplification reaction","volume":"66","author":"HE Hodgdon","year":"2010","journal-title":"Pest Manag Sci"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0287616.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2019.05.110","article-title":"Ectoparasites: pediculosis and tungiasis","volume":"82","author":"SJ Coates","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref020","article-title":"Paediatrics: how to manage pediculosis capitis","volume":"11","author":"AKC Leung","year":"2022","journal-title":"Drugs Context"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287616.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1111\/pde.14016","article-title":"Occlusive versus neurotoxic agents for topical treatment of head lice infestation: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"37","author":"RNS Flores-Genuino","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pediatr Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2210-9-3","article-title":"The mode of action of dimeticone 4% lotion against head lice, Pediculus capitis","volume":"9","author":"IF Burgess","year":"2009","journal-title":"BMC Pharmacol"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-0500-4-15","article-title":"Dimeticone 4% liquid gel found to kill all lice and eggs with a single 15 minute application","volume":"4","author":"IF Burgess","year":"2011","journal-title":"BMC Res Notes"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0287616.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"264","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2915.2008.00738.x","article-title":"In vitro efficacy of over-the-counter botanical pediculicides against the head louse Pediculus humanus var capitis based on a stringent standard for mortality assessment","volume":"22","author":"J Heukelbach","year":"2008","journal-title":"Med Vet Entomol"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0287616.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3506","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-020-10686-3","article-title":"Comparative efficacy of permethrin 1%, lindane 1%, and dimeticone 4% for the treatment of head louse infestation in Iran","volume":"28","author":"H Kassiri","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ Sci Pollut Res Int"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287616.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1186\/s12895-019-0093-5","article-title":"Comparative efficacy of three pediculicides to treat head lice infestation in primary school girls: a randomised controlled assessor blind trial in rural Iran","volume":"19","author":"H Kalari","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-5945-13-5","article-title":"Single application of 4% dimeticone liquid gel versus two applications of 1% permethrin creme rinse for treatment of head louse infestation: a randomised controlled trial","volume":"13","author":"IF Burgess","year":"2013","journal-title":"BMC Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1186\/s12887-015-0381-0","article-title":"Safety and efficacy of a 100% dimethicone pediculocide in school-age children","volume":"15","author":"ES Ihde","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMC Pediatr"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0287616.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1038\/35042080","article-title":"Using Drosophila as a model insect","volume":"1","author":"D. Schneider","year":"2000","journal-title":"Nat Rev Genet"},{"issue":"12","key":"pone.0287616.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0008955","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0008955","article-title":"Presence of the knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) collected from primary school children of Thailand","volume":"14","author":"N Brownell","year":"2020","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"11","key":"pone.0287616.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmaceutics14112430","article-title":"Physically acting treatments for head lice-can we still claim they are \u2019resistance proof\u2019?","volume":"14","author":"IF Burgess","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pharmaceutics"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0287616.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100156","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phyplu.2021.100156","article-title":"Biochemical constituents and insecticidal activities of Callistemon viminalis essential oil against adults and eggs of Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae)","volume":"2","author":"M Yingklang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Phytomedicine Plus"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1051\/parasite\/2018015","article-title":"Do drowning and anoxia kill head lice?","volume":"25","author":"K Candy","year":"2018","journal-title":"Parasite"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0287616.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"250","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2006.10.027","article-title":"In vitro pediculicidal and ovicidal activity of an extract and oil from fruits of Melia azedarach L","volume":"56","author":"MC Carpinella","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"441","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-9-441","article-title":"Treatment of head lice with dimeticone 4% lotion: comparison of two formulations in a randomised controlled trial in rural Turkey","volume":"9","author":"O Kurt","year":"2009","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0287616.ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"272","DOI":"10.1111\/ijd.15096","article-title":"International recommendations for an effective control of head louse infestations","volume":"60","author":"KY Mumcuoglu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Dermatol"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0287616.ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0156853","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0156853","article-title":"Efficacy and safety of a mineral oil-based head lice shampoo: a randomized, controlled, investigator-nlinded, comparative study","volume":"11","author":"L Wolf","year":"2016","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"pone.0287616.ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1240","DOI":"10.2741\/2758","article-title":"Neurotoxicity of pesticides: a brief review","volume":"13","author":"LG Costa","year":"2008","journal-title":"Front Biosci"}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0287616","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,24]],"date-time":"2023-06-24T21:44:23Z","timestamp":1687643063000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0287616"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Joshua","family":"Kamani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]]},"references-count":38,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0287616","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]]}}}