The Potential for Antitick Plants as Components of an Integrated Tick Control Strategy

Abstract

Extracts from various African plants have been shown to possess strong acaricidal and/or tick repellent properties. Some of the plant extracts are capable of reducing tick feeding, molting, fecundity, and viability of eggs. Pasture grasses capable of repelling, trapping, and killing ticks have also been reported. These grasses possess hairs (trichomes) that retard ticks from climbing to the top of the grasses in order to attach themselves to passing animals. Furthermore, some grass species, such as Stylosanthes, produce viscous fluids that poison and kill ticks. Results obtained with antitick plants are presented in this paper and feasibility of using them in an integrated tick control strategy is discussed.

Monitoring of resistance or susceptibility of adults and larvae of Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae) to synthetic acaricides in Goiás, Brazil

“…Prospects include the development of natural organic acaricides based on promising results obtained experimentally with such substances in the control of other species of ixodids (Kaaya et al 2000;Fernandes et al 2005Fernandes et al , 2008Pereira and Famadas et al 2006;Ribeiro et al 2007) and on the broad and valuable biodiversity of the Brazilian flora.…”

Potential of Traditional Knowledge of Plants in the Management of Arthropods in Livestock Industry with Focus on (Acari) Ticks

“…Some of the plant extracts are capable of affecting and modifying tick feeding behaviours, molting processes, fecundity, and viability of eggs, and so forth. Some of these plants are suitable forage and due to secondary metabolites they secrete as viscous, adhesive, odorous, or toxic substances; they have been found to be capable of repelling, trapping, and killing different host-seeking tick species [110, 131, 136, 206, 209, 214]. Some plants possess hairs (trichomes) that prevent ticks from climbing to the top in order to attain a suitable posture for attaching to any passing suitable host animal [44].…”

“…Some plants possess hairs (trichomes) that prevent ticks from climbing to the top in order to attain a suitable posture for attaching to any passing suitable host animal [44]. The existence of plants with these multiple bioactive properties in Africa offers challenges and opportunities to save African countries the high costs for importing acaricides and to replace those rendered unusable with tick resistance by critically considering the possibilities of using indigenous African plants as sources of acaricides [209]. These many bioactive properties indicate that the plants or the resultant herbal products can be integrated in various combinations for the control and management of different tick species especially by rural resource-poor livestock farmers at affordable or no cost at all.…”

Concepts and key issues of ethnoveterinary medicine in Africa: A review of its application in Zimbabwe

“…Most products are sold with English instructions for use and safe handling rather than the local language which can be understood by local users who are in most cases illiterate hence the frequency of incorrect application is high. In Kenya adulteration of commercial livestock drugs such as synthetic anthelmintics has been established to be a common practice leading to resistance of some disease causing organisms in livestock (Githiori, 2004).Resistant strains of ticks were reported to have developed against benzene hexachloride, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and toxaphane in a period ranging between 18 months to five years (Kayaa, 2000). Some internal parasites have developed resistance against deworming drugs asbenzimidazole, levamisole and even Ivermectin because of too frequent use (Duval, 1994).…”

“…Some internal parasites have developed resistance against deworming drugs asbenzimidazole, levamisole and even Ivermectin because of too frequent use (Duval, 1994). Studies carried out by Kayaa (2000) have also revealed that synthetic dewormers slow the decomposition of manure. The annual cost for importing acaricides has been estimated at US$9.3 million in Zimbabwe (Perry et al, 1990), US$16 million in Kenya (Tatchell et al, 1986), US$10 million in Zambia (Pegram et al, 1988), US$26 million in Tanzania (Kagaruki, 1997) and Uganda (OkelloMarandure 1837…”