Artemisia spp. essential oils against the disease-carrying blowfly Calliphora vomitoria

Abstract

BackgroundSynanthropic flies play a considerable role in the transmission of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms. In this work, the essential oil (EO) of two aromatic plants, Artemisia annua and Artemisia dracunculus, were evaluated for their abilities to control the blowfly Calliphora vomitoria. Artemisia annua and A. dracunculus EOs were extracted, analysed and tested in laboratory bioassays. Besides, the physiology of EOs toxicity and the EOs antibacterial and antifungal properties were evaluated.ResultsBoth Artemisia EOs deterred C. vomitoria oviposition on fresh beef meat. At 0.05 μl cm-2 A. dracunculus EO completely inhibited C. vomitoria oviposition. Toxicity tests, by contact, showed LD50 of 0.49 and 0.79 μl EO per fly for A. dracunculus and A. annua, respectively. By fumigation, LC50 values were 49.55 and 88.09 μl l-1 air for A. dracunculus and A. annua, respectively. EOs AChE inhibition in C. vomitoria (IC50 = 202.6 and 472.4 mg l-1, respectively, for A. dracunculus and A. annua) indicated that insect neural sites are targeted by the EOs toxicity. Finally, the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the two Artemisia EOs may assist in the reduction of transmission of microbial infections/contaminations.ConclusionsResults suggest that Artemisia EOs could be of use in the control of C. vomitoria, a common vector of pathogenic microorganisms and agent of human and animal cutaneous myiasis. The prevention of pathogenic and parasitic infections is a priority for human and animal health. The Artemisia EOs could represent an eco-friendly, low-cost alternative to synthetic repellents and insecticides to fight synanthropic disease-carrying blowflies.

Allium sativum, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Salvia officinalis Essential Oils: A Spiced Shield against Blowflies

“…The responsiveness of C. vomitoria to the three EOs was confirmed by the results of the oviposition deterrence bioassay that showed that A. sativum, R. officinalis, and S. officinalis EOs are able to exert a clear deterrent activity against C. vomitoria females' oviposition. Such results are in good agreement with previous experiments showing a strong oviposition deterrence by Artemisia dracunculus L. and A. annua L. (Asteraceae) EOs [19] against C. vomitoria and of Lavandula angustifolia Mill., and Clinopodium nubigenum (Kunth) EOs against Lucilia sericata Meigen (Diptera Calliphoridae) [28]. A repellent effect of EOs was also observed by Callander and James [38] who obtained the complete inhibition of oviposition of L. cuprina on wool treated with tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia Maiden & Betche) EO.…”

“…The larvae were fed with beef liver and maintained at room temperature until pupation. The pupae were held in cages until the emergence of the adults, which were provided with a sugar-yeast diet (sugar and yeast 1:1) to provide the proteins amount necessary to stimulate oviposition [19,20] and water ad libitum. Species identification of the emerged adults was confirmed by an expert dipterologist (Alfio Raspi, former Professor, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa).…”

Toxicity and oviposition deterrence of essential oils of Clinopodium nubigenum and Lavandula angustifolia against the myiasis-inducing blowfly Lucilia sericata

“…This could be due to the different chemical composition of the two EOs. Because of such interspecific chemical variability, Bedini et al [6] found a very different level of toxicity when comparing two EOs extracted from Artemisia annua and A . dracunculus against the blowfly Calliphora vomitoria .…”

“…Particularly in hospitals, the feeding activities of larvae can rapidly lead bedridden patients to develop cutaneous lesions, further oviposition, debilitation, and death. In addition, blowflies can act as carriers of pathogenic bacteria [5; 6; 7]. The larvae of myiasis-inducing flies affect both wild [8] and domestic mammals raising both economic and animal welfare concerns [9].…”

Efficacy of some essential oils on Cephalopina titillator with special concern to nasal myiasis prevalence among camels and its consequent histopathological changes

“…Treatment of nasal myiasis has depended on systemic parasiticides as macrocyclic lactones (Seddiek et al 2013). Currently bio-insecticides, especially those of plant origin extracts have been progressively assessed in controlling medicinally important insect populations (Wins-Purdy et al 2009;Kumar et al 2013;Bedini et al 2017) for examples camphor oil (Cinnamomum camphora), which is an excellent disinfectant, insecticide and germicide. It can be eradicate lice or other small parasites of bugs from on the body.…”