Cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) infestations cause significant losses in livestock. The study's goal was to demonstrate
the efficacy of essential oils (EOs) derived from Azadirachta indica, Boswellia serrata, Melaleuca alternifolia, and
Pogostemon cablin in killing livestock ticks, preventing them from reproducing by reducing oviposition and hatching. EOs
are potential natural agents that have the ability to eliminate or deter ticks. They also provide an alternative to synthetic
insecticides and can help prevent the spread of tick-borne diseases by reducing the risk of tick bites. The larval pack test
demonstrated that Azadirachta indica (
LC50 = 38.86 mg ml−
1), Melaleuca alternifolia, (
LC50 = 26.76), and Pogostemon
cablin (
LC50 = 31.49) EOs killed all the ticks at a concentration of 20% (mg ml−
1) for 24 h post-treatment. Mixtures of EOs
showed a high efficiency in killing ticks (100% mortality) at the fifth day of treatment at 5% (v/v) concentration. The treatment
with EOs at 20% significantly reduced the oviposition (from 95.93 to 100.0%) of engorged female cattle ticks. We
concluded that the pure and mixed EOs of Melaleuca alternifolia and Pogostemon cablin are very effective at killing ticks
and stopping R. microplus reproduction. |
