Sunny days are perfect for spending time in nature. A walk in the woods, a hike to the nearest hill or a picnic in the meadow is a great way to recharge our batteries at the weekend. However, these activities are associated with the risk that we will bring home an unwanted souvenir in the form of a tick.
Mild winters and warming cause these parasites to appear earlier in spring and at a higher altitude. They transmit serious illnesses which are difficult to treat – encephalitis, Lyme disease, babesiosis and others. It is therefore extremely important to protect against them, for example, by wearing clothes that cover as much of the body as possible.
We wanted to provide a solution that would help protect people during their outdoor activities. Therefore, we partnered up with the Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice and the Faculty of Science of the P.J. Šafárik University in Košice.
Together we have developed a special polypropylene yarn called Prolen® IXO, which has a repellent effect against IXODES Ricinus L. – the tick that is most commonly found in Europe.
This yarn contains natural substances that do not irritate humans. It is decanoic acid that has a repellent effect on the above-mentioned tick species. It has been registered by the European Chemicals Agency for use as an active substance of repellents (product category 19) and protection against pests (product category 18) since 1 November 2015. The yarn does not contain pesticides or synthetic repellents.
The Center for Applied Research of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice performed the 1/2019-FibroTick replication test. It determined a reduction in the residence time of adult female Ixodes ricinus ticks on the fabric compared to an equivalent fabric made of repellent-free yarn.
We produce socks and gloves from Prolen® IXO yarn for people who like outdoor activities. You can find these products in our e-shop.