Highlights
- •In vitro anti-parasitic efficacy study of 52 Demodex mites.
- •Mites were randomised to cyclodextrin-complexed and uncomplexed Manuka honey, tea tree oil, or no treatment application.
- •Mite viability was assessed for 240 min following treatment application.
- •Cyclodextrin-complexed Manuka honey demonstrated comparable anti-demodectic efficacy to 50% tea tree oil (TTO).
- •Complexed honey with proven in vivo tolerability shows promise as possible alternative to TTO for demodex eradication.
Abstract
Purpose
To compare the in vitro antiparasitic effects of MGO™ Manuka honey and tea tree oil against ocular Demodex.
Methods
Fifty-two viable Demodex mites were acquired from the epilated eyelashes of 9 participants with blepharitis
and symptomatic dry eye. Viable mites were randomised to one of five treatment groups:
cyclodextrin-complexed and uncomplexed Manuka Honey, 100% and 50% tea tree oil, and
no treatment. Following treatment application, mite viability was assessed for 240 min,
based on limb and body movement and/or the development of a crenated/translucent appearance.
Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was then performed.
Results
The log-rank test demonstrated a significant treatment effect on the survival distribution
of Demodex mites (p < 0.001). Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc pairwise analysis showed that all
treatments except for uncomplexed honey effected lower survival probabilities than
the untreated group (all p < 0.001). Among the four treatments, survival probabilities
were lowest with 100% tea tree oil (all p < 0.001), and highest with uncomplexed honey
(all p ≤ 0.001). No difference was observed between complexed honey and 50% tea tree
oil (p = 0.81).
Conclusions
The in vitro efficacy of cyclodextrin-complexed Manuka honey was comparable with 50% tea tree
oil, an established treatment for ocular Demodex. The findings support future clinical trials investigating the therapeutic effects
of complexed honey in demodectic blepharitis patients.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 06, 2018
Accepted:
June 28,
2018
Received in revised form:
June 14,
2018
Received:
May 19,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
