COMPARISON OF IN-VITRO SUSCEPTIBILITY OF SARCOPTIES SCABIEIVAR HOMINIS TO 5% PERMETHRIN AND 1 % LINDANE -

Objective: To measure in-vitro susceptibility of Sarcopties Scabieivar Hominis to 5% permethrin and 1 % lindane. Study Design: Randomized controlled trials. Place and Duration of Study: Study was carried out at Dermatology Department, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from January 2012 to June 2012. Material and Methods: A total of 60 mites from 60 patients were taken for assay. Mites from every patient were randomly allocated to two groups i.e. group A (5% permethrin) and group B (1% lindane). Permethrin and lindane were applied in a thin film over a glass slide. Live mites were then gently transferred to the glass slide and covered with a lid. Mites were inspected for leg movements at time interval of 1hr, 2hrs, 3hrs, 4hrs and 5hrs. Death was declared once all leg movements had ceased. All mites which died within 5 hours had been declared as susceptible to drugs, while mites having active leg movements even after 5 hours of drug application were considered as non-susceptible. Results: A total of 93.33% (n=28) of mites in group-A died within 5 hours of application of permethrin (susceptible) and 6.67% (n=2) of mites in group-A were alive after 5 hours of drug application (resistant).  While 53.33 % (n=16) of mites in group-B died within 5 hours of application of lindane (susceptible) and 46.67% (n=14) of mites in group-B did not die after 5 hours (non-susceptible). (p value < 0.001). Conclusion: Permethrin is more effective as compared to lindane against Sarcopties Scabei in terms of in-vitro susceptibility.