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MilTICK Study: Permethrin Treated Uniforms Increase Tick Bite Protection
An article regarding recent study on effectiveness of permethrin-treated uniforms against ticks was conducted at Department of Defense (DOD) Military Tick Identification/Infection Confirmation Kit Program (MilTICK program) was published by The Army (Douglas Holl, Defense Centers for Public Health-Aberdeen Public Affairs) 5.31.23 . Results of the study found that ticks submitted by service members wearing permethrin-treated uniforms were significantly less likely to have become engorged. The DOD MilTICK program has been offering free identification and analysis of ticks that have been removed from human patients for 20 years. The program is open to active-duty service members, DOD beneficiaries, contractors and civilians.
Dr. Robyn Nadolny, Defense Centers for Public Health, is an Aberdeen biologist and chief of the Vector-Borne Disease Branch, which manages the MilTICK program. She states that “The longer a tick stays attached, the more engorged with blood it will be, and the higher the chance of the tick passing along an infectious agent that can make someone sick.” She also says that active service members were likely better protected than other participants that submitted ticks, including retirees, civilians, and family members, since active military were wearing uniforms properly and implementing other precautions of the “DOD Insect Repellent System.”
Army uniforms are factory-treated with permethrin, but with use and washings and time, the efficacy of the treatment is known to decrease. The MilTICK researchers found service members wearing permethrin-treated uniforms in the field submitted an increasing number of engorged ticks over time, which raises concern about permethrin’s long term effectiveness. Concern is that until there is approved direction for re-treatment of older uniforms, it is likely this trend will continue. Also of concern is the effectiveness of permethrin against two of the most common disease carrying ticks, the lone star tick and the blacklegged tick. Skin repellent in addition to permethrin treated clothing is advised for military personnel, both on duty and off duty for best protection.
The program would like to see increased tick submissions from services other than the Army, and from areas outside of Maryland as ticks and diseases continue to expand nationwide.
For more Information
Visit MilTICK for information about tick submissions
Read more LDA posts regarding permethrin