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Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD Aug 2009Malathion is an under-recognized and under-utilized therapy for head lice and scabies largely due to misperceptions about its safety profile. Specifically, its pure form... (Review)
Review
Malathion is an under-recognized and under-utilized therapy for head lice and scabies largely due to misperceptions about its safety profile. Specifically, its pure form as it exists in pharmaceutical preparations is non-toxic to humans in the low doses available. While labeled for ages six and up, recent studies showed no cholinesterase inhibition in head lice patients aged two-to-six treated with malathion. Flammability of malathion in isopropyl alcohol has reportedly resulted in human injury once in over one million prescriptions filled. Recent efficacy studies of malathion in United States (U.S.) head lice demonstrate efficacy rates of 97-98%. In the present era of permethrin and lindane resistance to head lice, malathion is a first-line option. For scabies, it is a reasonable alternative to permethrin 5% cream, especially when treatment of the scalp or hairy areas is desired.
Topics: Animals; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Humans; Insecticides; Lice Infestations; Malathion; Pediculus; Scabies; Scalp Dermatoses
PubMed: 19663108
DOI: No ID Found -
Critical Reviews in Microbiology May 2014Organophosphorus pesticide, malathion, is used in public health, residential, and agricultural settings worldwide to control the pest population. It is proven that... (Review)
Review
Organophosphorus pesticide, malathion, is used in public health, residential, and agricultural settings worldwide to control the pest population. It is proven that exposure to malathion produce toxic effects in humans and other mammals. Due to high toxicity, studies are going on to design effective methods for removal of malathion and its associated compounds from the environment. Among various techniques available, degradation of malathion by microbes proves to be an effective and environment friendly method. Recently, research activities in this area have shown that a diverse range of microorganisms are capable of degrading malathion. Therefore, we aimed at providing an overview of research accomplishments on this subject and discussed the toxicity of malathion and its metabolites, various microorganisms involved in its biodegradation and effect of various environmental parameters on its degradation.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Biotransformation; Environmental Microbiology; Environmental Pollutants; Fungi; Humans; Malathion; Pesticides
PubMed: 23442144
DOI: 10.3109/1040841X.2013.763222 -
Journal of Environmental Science and... 2019A comprehensive review of available bioremediation technologies for the pesticide malathion is presented. This review article describes the usage and consequences of... (Review)
Review
A comprehensive review of available bioremediation technologies for the pesticide malathion is presented. This review article describes the usage and consequences of malathion in the environment, along with a critical discussion on modes of metabolism of malathion as a sole source of carbon, phosphorus, and sulfur for bacteria, and fungi along with the biochemical and molecular aspects involved in its biodegradation. Additionally, the recent approaches of genetic engineering are discussed for the manipulation of important enzymes and microorganisms for enhanced malathion degradation along with the challenges that lie ahead.
Topics: Biodegradation, Environmental; Insecticides; Malathion; Soil Microbiology; Soil Pollutants
PubMed: 31566482
DOI: 10.1080/10590501.2019.1654809 -
Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology Jun 2022Many cases of insecticide resistance in insect pests give resulting no-cost strains that retain the resistance genes even in the absence of the toxic stressor. Malathion...
Many cases of insecticide resistance in insect pests give resulting no-cost strains that retain the resistance genes even in the absence of the toxic stressor. Malathion (rac-diethyl 2-[(dimethoxyphosphorothioyl)sulfanyl]succinate) has been widely used against the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst. in stored products although no longer used. Malathion specific resistance in this pest is long lasting and widely distributed. A malathion resistant strain was challenged with a range of stressors including starvation, hyperoxia, malathion and a pathogen to determine the antioxidant responses and changes to some lifecycle parameters. Adult life span of the malathion-specific resistant strain of T. castaneum was significantly shorter than that of the susceptible. Starvation and/or high oxygen reduced adult life span of both strains. Starving, with and without 100% oxygen, gave longer lifespan for the resistant strain, but for oxygen alone there was a small extension. Under oxygen the proportional survival of the resistant strain to the adult stage was significantly higher, for both larvae and pupae, than the susceptible. The resistant strain when stressed with malathion and oxygen significantly increased catalase activity, but the susceptible did not. The resistant strain stressed with Paranosema whitei infection had significantly higher survival compared to the susceptible, and with low mortality. The malathion resistant strain of T. castaneum showed greater vigour than the susceptible in oxidative stress situations and especially where stressors were combined. The induction of the antioxidant enzyme catalase could have helped the resistant strain to withstand oxidative stresses, including insecticidal and importantly those from pathogens. These adaptations, in the absence of insecticide, seem to support the increased immunity of the insecticide resistant host to pathogens seen in other insect species, such as mosquitoes. By increasing the responses to a range of stressors the resistant strain could be considered as having enhanced fitness, compared to the susceptible.
Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Catalase; Insecticides; Malathion; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen; Tribolium
PubMed: 35715066
DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105128 -
Archives of Microbiology Jul 2022Malathion is widely used as an agricultural insecticide, but its toxic nature makes it a serious environmental contaminant. To screen indigenous bacteria for malathion...
Malathion is widely used as an agricultural insecticide, but its toxic nature makes it a serious environmental contaminant. To screen indigenous bacteria for malathion degradation, a strain MAGK3 capable of utilizing malathion as its sole carbon and energy source was isolated from Pennisetum glaucum agricultural soil. Based on morphological and biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, strain MAGK3 was identified as Micrococcus aloeverae. The strain was cultured in the presence of malathion under aerobic and energy-restricting conditions, and it grew well in MSM containing malathion (1000 µl/L), showing the highest specific growth rate at 500 µl/L Reverse-phase UHPLC-DAD analysis indicated that 100%, 90.48%, 84.27%, 75.46%, 66.65%, and 31.96% of malathion were degraded within 15 days in liquid culture augmented with 50, 100, 200, 300, 500, and 1000 µl/L concentrations of commercial malathion, respectively. Confirmation of malathion degradation to malathion mono, diacids, and phosphorus moiety was performed by Q-TOF-MS analysis, and a pathway of biodegradation was proposed. The influence of co-substrates was also examined to optimize biodegradation further. Kinetic studies based on different models were conducted, and the results demonstrated good conformity with the first-order model. Malathion degradation process by Micrococcus aloeverae was characterized by R of 0.95, and the initial concentration was reduced by 50% i.e. (DT50) in 8.11 d at an initial concentration of 500 µl/L. This establishes the Micrococcus sp. as a potent candidate for active bioremediation of malathion in liquid cultures as it can withstand high malathion load and can possibly impact the development strategies of bioremediation for its elimination.
Topics: Biodegradation, Environmental; Kinetics; Malathion; Micrococcus; Soil Microbiology
PubMed: 35834020
DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-03106-2 -
Materials Science & Engineering. C,... Mar 2019The emergence of pyrethroid resistance in mosquitoes is complicating malaria elimination efforts in Africa and alternative insecticides have to be considered for indoor...
The emergence of pyrethroid resistance in mosquitoes is complicating malaria elimination efforts in Africa and alternative insecticides have to be considered for indoor residual spray. Unfortunately, the high volatility of WHO-approved organophosphate alternatives, e.g. malathion, translates into an early loss of residual efficacy. This laboratory study explored the concept of trilayer films as potential wall or ceiling linings. In the proposed design, the fugitive liquid insecticide is trapped in an inner core layer. The two sheath layers act as low-permeability membranes controlling the release of the insecticide. The concept was explored using poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) as core and sheath polymers respectively. The polarity of the EVA polymer matrix allowed incorporation of substantial quantities (up to 30 wt%) of malathion. The low polarity of the LDPE provided the necessary barrier properties and, in addition, allowed film blowing to be conducted at relatively low processing temperatures. Trilayer films containing about 6 wt% malathion were prepared on a film blowing line. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the trilayer film structure. Confocal Raman microscopy studies revealed a malathion concentration gradient across the thickness of the polyethylene layers. Mass loss measurements and FTIR spectroscopy studies showed that the malathion release followed first-order kinetics. Bioassays, on samples aged at 22 °C, indicated that the residual efficacy against mosquitoes can be maintained for up to about six months. This suggests that trilayer films impregnated with organophosphates, may have potential as alternative mosquito control interventions in pyrethroid resistant settings.
Topics: Animals; Anopheles; Female; Insecticides; Malaria; Malathion; Membranes, Artificial; Mosquito Vectors; Pest Control; Polyenes
PubMed: 30606551
DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2018.11.057 -
Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1993Mammalian in vivo and in vitro studies of technical or commercial grade malathion and its metabolite malaoxon show a pattern of induction of chromosome damage, as... (Review)
Review
Mammalian in vivo and in vitro studies of technical or commercial grade malathion and its metabolite malaoxon show a pattern of induction of chromosome damage, as measured by chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, and micronuclei. Experiments with purified (> 99%) malathion gave weak or negative results. In contrast to the cytogenetic effects of technical grade malathion, responses in gene mutation assays were generally negative except for malaoxon, which was positive for mammalian gene mutations in both tested instances. This result also could be a consequence of chromosome level changes, however. Dermal exposure, a common human route, caused cytogenetic damage in test animals at doses near those producing positive results by intraperitoneal injection. Workers who apply technical grade malathion and other pesticides have higher levels of chromosomal damage than unexposed individuals. Because of the inactivity of malathion mixtures in gene mutation assays, malathion has been thought to be of little genotoxic concern. However, the pattern of chromosome damage in animals and mammalian cells in culture (including human) indicates that technical grade malathion and its components have not been adequately studied for genotoxic potential in humans.
Topics: Animals; Chromosome Aberrations; Humans; Malathion; Micronucleus Tests; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutagens; Sister Chromatid Exchange
PubMed: 8339727
DOI: 10.1002/em.2850220104 -
Science (New York, N.Y.) Aug 1995
Topics: Animals; California; Humans; Insecticides; Malathion
PubMed: 7638607
DOI: 10.1126/science.7638607 -
British Medical Journal Sep 1972
Topics: Drug Resistance; Humans; Lice Infestations; Malathion
PubMed: 5071715
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.3.5827.646-f -
Science (New York, N.Y.) Jul 1981
Topics: Accident Prevention; Animals; Diptera; Half-Life; Humans; Malathion; Safety
PubMed: 7244651
DOI: 10.1126/science.7244651