In search for low-cost, safe and environmentally benign plant-based alternatives to commercial pesticides, the efficacy of Lippia javanica aqueous leaf extracts in controlling ticks on cattle, acute oral toxicity in mice and phytochemistry were evaluated. L. javanica aqueous leaf extracts at 10% and 20% w/v were effective at controlling cattle ticks but not as good as an amitraz-based acaricide Tickbuster®. However, they can provide an effective tick control option where synthetic products are unavailable or unaffordable, particularly in remote parts of southern Africa. Peripheral blood samples collected showed no haemoparasites in treated cattle implying that animals did not suffer from clinical tick-borne diseases. The leaf aqueous extracts of L. javanica were tested for toxicity in BALB/c mice. While anecdotal evidence suggests L. javanica has low mammalian toxicity, within 48 h all mice fed with the L. javanica leaf aqueous extract at 12.5-37.5% v/v were lethargic, and overall mortality was 37.5% (n=24). Thus, despite their apparent safety, water extracts of L. javanica leaves may have deleterious health implications on humans and animals if consumed at very high doses. Many compounds have been identified from L. javanica including an array of phenolic glycosides, flavonoids and essential oils but none of these are known to have acute toxic properties.
BackgroundThe inclusion of traditional plant-based ecto-parasite control methods in primary health care of livestock is increasingly becoming an important intervention for improving livestock productivity in resource-challenged smallholder farming areas. In this study, commonly used plants used for the control of cattle ticks and other pests were identified through a survey in four semi–arid districts of Zimbabwe.MethodsA standard structured questionnaire with details of demographics, socioeconomic status of households, livestock parasites, control practices and list of ethnoveterinary plants used was used to interview 233 knowledgeable smallholder farmers in four districts. Focus group discussions with community members further provided insights on how the plants were being used and other issues surrounding ecto-parasite control and indigenous knowledge systems in the study areas.ResultsThe older generation (>40 years) of the respondents were knowledgeable about ethnoveterinary plants and practices. Overall, 51 plant species were reportedly effective against cattle ticks and other livestock parasites. The most frequently mentioned plants were in descending order, Cissus quadrangularis (30.1%), Lippia javanica (19.6%), Psydrax livida (14.9%) and Aloe sp (14.9%). Most of the plant materials were prepared by crushing and soaking in water and spraying the extract on animals. Despite the knowledge of these useful pesticidal plants, the preferred animal health care for cattle and other highly ranked livestock species is still the use of commercial acaricides. Cattle dipping services were reported sporadic by 48% of the respondents. Traditional knowledge and plants are considered only as an alternative in the absence of conventional synthetic products.ConclusionsLivestock farming communities know of plant species used for livestock ecto-parasite control. The plant species are mostly used to complement commercial products. More work, is required to confirm the acaricidal properties claimed by the farmers in order to optimize and promote sustainable use of these plants.
The efficacy of Solanum incanum and Strychnos spinosa aqueous fruit extracts was evaluated against cattle ticks in on-station experiments and laboratory tick bioassays. In the on-station experiment using cattle, fruit extracts were applied at three concentrations 5, 10, and 20 % (w/v) and compared with a commercial acaricide, Tickbuster (amitraz) spray (positive control) and no treatment (negative control). The treatments were applied at weekly intervals for 6 weeks as surface sprays on 32 Mashona cattle in a completely randomized design experiment. Ticks on individual cattle were identified, counted, and recorded daily. Peripheral blood samples were collected for parasite screening. In the laboratory, tick bioassays were conducted at four concentrations, 5, 10, 20, and 40% (w/v) fruit extracts compared to Tickbuster (amitraz) spray (positive control) and distilled water (negative control). The extracts were incubated with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus tick larvae and mortalities for each treatment level recorded after 24 and 48 h. The 5% Solanum incanum treatment had higher efficacy ratio (P < 0.05) than the other fruit extract concentrations of the same plant species. Efficacy ratio was higher (P < 0.05) in the 5% S. spinosa-treated cattle than in the untreated control but lower (P < 0.05) than that for the amitraz treatment. The bioassays indicated that there was a high efficacy ratio for the lowest fruit extract concentrations when ticks were exposed to acaricidal treatments for 48 h compared to 24 h. Overall, the results indicate that Solanum incanum and Strychnos spinosa individually have some acaricidal effect.
Farmers in Zimbabwe claim plant that extracts of Cissus quadrangularis, Aloe vera and Maerua edulis are effective at controlling cattle ticks. On-station experiments were conducted at Henderson Research Station to determine the in-vivo efficacy of crude aqueous extracts of Cissus quadrangularis (succulent stems), Aloe vera (succulent leaves) and Maerua edulis (leaves and tuber) at concentrations of 15%, 15% and 10% w/v respectively, against cattle ticks. An amitraz-based acaricide and water were used as positive and negative controls respectively. Thirty Mashona steers were allocated to the six treatments in a completely randomised design experiment where each animal was an experimental unit replicated five times. The animals were each sprayed weekly with 5 L of the test or control solutions using a knapsack sprayer after which full body tick counts were recorded every other day for seven weeks. The experiments were conducted between January and February when conditions are optimal for tick development. The M. edulis tuber extract was as effective as the amitraz-based commercial acaricide. The other three plants extracts were however, as ineffective as the negative water control. Maerua edulis tuber, soapy water-oil extract is effective against cattle ticks and have potential to be developed into an acaricidal product and thus benefit mostly resourcechallenged smallholder farmers who cannot afford commercial synthetic acaricides. In vivo studies using acaricidal plants are rare.
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