Development of an Orally Effective Insect Repellent
Abstract
An insect "bitometer" was developed that detects and records the probing, penetration, salivation, engorgement and withdrawal of a mosquito from the skin of the host. The device was employed for assay of a number of potential mosquito repellants. Studies were conducted to explore possible mechanisms of attraction of mosquitoes to an animal host. A hypothesis was developed to explain how the interactions of moisture, temperature, and carbon dioxide may operate in host attraction. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was found in mosquitoes, where it may play a role in mediating synaptic inhibition in the nervous system. It was postulated that when GABA combines with carbon dioxide, the resulting carbamino-GABA compound is no longer neuroinhibitory, and furthermore that the reaction of GABA with carbon dioxide underlies the mechanism by which mosquitoes are activated by carbon dioxide. Experimental studies supported the concept that carbamino-GABA is a neurostimulatory compound. On the basis of this work, numerous GABA-like volatile compounds, as well as N-substituted GABA-like compounds were screened for mosquito repellency. In most instances these compounds were found to be significantly repellent in low concentrations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0715432
Entities
People
- Philip Kashin
Organizations
- IIT Research Institute