ABSTRACT
To measure in-vitro susceptibility of Sarcopties Scabieivar Hominis to 5% permethrin and 1% lindane.Study Design: Randomized controlled trials. Study was carried out at Dermatology Department, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from January 2012 to June 2012. 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. 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]. Permethrin is more effective as compared to lindane against Sarcopties Scabei in terms of in-vitro susceptibility