Citronella, Neen and Noni for Ripicephalus (Boophilus) microplus control in vitro

Abstract

The chemical tick treatment has been widely used, however in an indiscriminate way, leading to resistance increase to synthetic drugs by this parasite. In an attempt to control Ripicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of herbal treatments as alternative in their control. For the experiment, 500 teleogenes were collected from a farm without pharmacological treatment during 60 days and were subsequently submitted to biocarrapaticidogram test to evaluate the reproductive efficiency and drug efficacy of the treatments. Subsequently, the larvae immersion test was performed, evaluating the treatments larvicidal effect. For the treatments were used: (1) citronella hydroalcoholic extract, (2) neen commercial emulsifiable oil, (3) noni hydroalcoholic extract, (4) commercial cypermethrin product and (5) water. The hydroalcoholic citronella extract stood out compared to other herbal treatments with 50% efficiency and cypermethrin was 100% effective in controlling R. (B.) microplus in vitro (Anova P > 0.05). This scenario was similar to larval protocol (Anova P > 0.05). It highlight the alternating active medicaments importance, which may include herbal medicines use, such as hydroalcoholic citronella extract, in a preventive way; plus the cypermethrin application at strategic points in infested animals. This management can be useful in bovine tick control, also highlighting the using citronella extract importance in organic farms.