Details for Patent: 5,858,383

Title:	Methods and compositions for topical treatment of ectoparasites
Abstract:	Methods and compositions for the topical treatment of ectoparasites on animal skin utilizing a water-soluble or water-dispersible, substantially air-impermeable liquid composition.
Inventor(s):	Precopio; Michael J. (Collegeville, PA)
Assignee:	Summers Laboratories, Inc. (Collegeville, PA)
Filing Date:	Aug 11, 1997
Application Number:	08/909,352
Claims:	1. A method for the topical treatment of ectoparasites on animal animal skin comprising the steps of A) applying to the skin containing ectoparasites a water-soluble or water-dispersible, substantially air-impermeable liquid composition, wherein the liquid composition can range from free-flowing to viscous, and wherein the liquid composition contains at least one skin compatible surface active agent selected from the group consisting of (a) water-soluble or dispersible synthetic anionic surfactants selected from (i) anionic surfactants containing an organic hydrophobic group of 8 to 26 carbon atoms and at least one water-solubilizing group selected from sulfonate, sulfate, carboxylate, phosphonate and phosphate groups, (ii) C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 acyl sarcosinates, (iii) sodium and potassium salts of the reaction product of higher fatty acids containing 8-18 carbon atoms in the molecule esterified with isethionic acid, (iv) sodium and potassium salts of the C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 acyl N-methyl taurides, (v) sodium, potassium and ammonium alkyl phosphate esters, and (vi) sodium, potassium and ammonium akyl phosphate esters containing one to about 40 moles of ethylene oxide; (b) water soluble or dispersible nonionic surfactants selected from (i) the condensation product of an organic alphatic or alkyl aromatic hydrophobic compound having a carboxy, hydroxy, amido, or amino group with a free hydrogen attached to the nitrogen, and hydrophilic ethylene oxide groups, (ii) an aliphatic monhydric alcohol containing from 1-8 carbon atoms to which is attached a chain of oxyethylene and oxypropylene groups, (iii) a surfactant derived from the condensation of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylenc oxide and ethylene diamine, and (iv) alkyl saccharide surfactants; (c) water-soluble or dispersible cationic sutfactanlts selected from surfactants containing an organic hydrophobic group and a cationic solubilizing group; (d) water-soluble or dispersible ampiphoteric surfactants which are salts of derivatives of aliphatic amines containing at least one cationic group; (e) a water-soluble or dispersible zwitterionic surfactant selected from betaines and sulfobetaines; (f) a water-soluble or dispersible polar nonionic surfactant in which a hydrophilic group contains a semi-polar bond directly between two atoms but wherein the surfactant molecule bears no net charge and does not dissociate into ions; and (g) a soap which is an alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium salt of a long chain fatty acid; B) leaving the composition in contact with the skin until the ectoparasites have been killed; and C) removing the composition and the dead ectoparasites from the skin. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition also contains an effective quantity of at least one enzyme that removes nits by loosening the nits from skin and hair. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal skin is the human scalp and the ectoparasite is the head louse. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition also contains a thickening agent. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the viscosity of the composition is at least about 1 centipoise at 20.degree. C. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein in step A) the composition is a water-based pharmaceutically acceptable jelly containing gum. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein in step B) the composition is left in contact with the skin for from about 4 to about 24 hours. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein in step C) the composition is removed by rinsing with water. 9. A method for the topical treatment of human scalp infected with head lice comprising the steps of A) applying to the scalp containing head lice a water-soluble or water-dispersible, substantially air-impermeable liquid composition, wherein the liquid composition can range from free-flowing to viscous, and wherein the liquid composition contains at least one skin compatible surface active agent selected from the group consisting of (a) water-soluble or dispersible synthetic anionic sufactants selected from (i) anionic sufactants containing an organic hydrophobic group of 8 to 26 carbon atoms and at least one water-solublizing group selected from sulfonate, sulfate, carboxylate, phosphonate and phosphate groups, (ii) C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 acyl sarcosinates, (iii) sodium and potassium salts of the reaction product of higher fatty acids containing 8-18 carbon atoms in the molecule esterified with isethionic acid, (iv) sodium and potassium salts of the C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 acyl N-methyl taurides, (v) sodium, potassium and ammonium alkyl phosphate esters, and (vi) sodium, potassium and ammonium alkyl phosphate esters containing one to about 40 moles of ethylene oxide; (b) water-soluble or dispersible nonionic surfactants selected from (i) the condensation product of an organic aliphatic or alkyl aromatic hydrophobic compound having a carboxy, hydroxy, amido, or amino group with a free hydrogen attached to the nitrogen, and hydrophilic ethylene oxide groups, (ii) an aliphatic monohydric alcohol containing from 1-8 carbon atoms to which is attached a chain of oxyethylene and oxypropylene groups, (iii) a surfactant derived from the condensation of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylene diamine, and (iv) alkyl saccharide surfactants; (c) water-soluble or dispersible cationic surfactants selected from surfactants having an organic hydrophobic group and a cationic solubilizing group; (d) water-soluble or dispersible amphoteric surfactants which are salts of derivatives of aliphatic amines containing at least one cationic group; (e) a water-soluble or dispersible zwitterionic surfactant selected from betaines and sulfobetaines; (f) a water soluble or dispersible polar nonionic surfactant in which a hydrophilic group contains a semi-polar bond directly between two atoms but wherein the surfactant molecule bears no net charge and does not dissociate into ions; and (g) a soap which is an alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium salt of a long chain fatty acid; B) leaving the composition in contact with the scalp until the head lice have been killed; C) removing the composition and the dead head lice from the scalp. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the composition also contains an effective quantity of at least one enzyme that removes nits by loosening the nits from skin and hair. 11. A composition for the treatment of ectoparasites and their nits on animal skin comprising I) a water-soluble or water-dispersible, substantially air-impermeable liquid composition, wherein the liquid composition can range from free-flowing to viscous, and wherein the liquid composition contains at least one skin compatible surface active agent selected from the group consisting of (a) water-soluble or dispersible synthetic anionic surfactants selected from (i) anionic surfactants containing an organic hydrophobic group of 8 to 26 carbon atoms and at least one water-solubilizing group selected from sulfonate, sulfate, caraboxylate, phosphonate and phosphate groups, (ii) C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 acyl sarcosinates, (iii) sodium and potassium salts of the reaction product of higher fatty acids containing 8-18 carbon atoms in the molecule esterified with isethionic acid, (iv) sodium and potassium salts of the C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 acyl N-methyl taurides, (v) sodium, potassium and ammonium alkyl phosphate esters, and (vi) sodium, potassium and ammonium alkyl phosphate esters containing one to about 40 moles of ethylene oxide; (b) water-soluble or dispersible nonionic surfactants selected from (i) the condensation product of an organic aliphatic or alkyl aromatic hydrophobic compound having a carboxy, hydroxy, amido,or amino group with a free hydrogen attached to the nitrogen, and hydrophilic ethylene oxide groups, (ii) an aliphatic monohydric alcohol containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms to which is attached a chain of oxethylene and oxypropylene groups, (iii) a surfactant derived from the condensation of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylene diamine, and (iv) alkyl saccharide surfactants; (c) water-soluble or dispersible cationic surfactants selected from surfactants containing an organic hydrophobic group and a cationic solubilizing group; (d) water-soluble or dispersible amphoteric surfactants which are salts of derivatives of aliphatic amines containing at least one cationic group; (e) a water-soluble or dispersible zwitterionic surfactant selected from betaines and sulfobetaines; (f) a water-soluble or dispersible polar nonionic surfactant in which a hydrophilic group contains a semi-polar bond directly between two atoms but wherein the surfactant molecule bears no net charge and does not dissociate into ions; and (g) a soap which is an alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium salt of a long chain fatty acid; and II) an effective quantity of at least one enzyme that removes nits from skin and hair by loosening the nits from the skin and hair. 12. The composition of claim 11 wherein component I) also contains a thickening agent. 13. The composition of claim 11 wherein the viscosity of the composition is at least 1 centipoise at 20.degree. C. 14. The composition of claim 11 wherein component II) is present in from about 0.0001 to about 10% weight, based on the composition. 15. The composition of claim 11 wherein component I) contains a thickening agent, and the viscosity of the composition is at least about 1 centipoise at 20.degree. C.