Management of cattle ticks, Rhipicephalus spp (decoloratus and microplus) (Acarina: Ixodidae) with aqueous garlic extract

ABSTRACT

Ticks are obligate polyphagous blood-sucking arthropod parasites of economic importance affecting a number of domestic and non-domestic animals. Laboratory bioassays were carried using second instar ticks sprayed with four concentrations of aqueous garlic extract (50%, 25%, 10%, and 5%) and distilled water as a blank control at room and ambient temperatures and replicated five times. Ticks were examined for mortality every 4 h for 48 h. No mortality was observed for the control experiment. Mortality was significantly high (p = 0.0001) at 50% (100% mortality). There was no significant difference between 10% and 25% after 16 h of exposure. A field experiment was also conducted where cattle (n = 25) infested with an estimated (but variable) number of ticks were sprayed with garlic extract (and observed after every 24 h for 1 week, for any remaining ticks. Geometric mean tick counts obtained were reduced by 99% and 94% on day 2 in 25% and 50%, respectively, compared to the negative control group. Sprayed uninfested cattle (n = 10) were allowed to mix and graze together with infested animals and after which the number of ticks was assessed on each animal every 24 h for 7 days. The highest concentrations (50%, 25%, and 10%) effectively repelled ticks within the 7 days while tick numbers built up in the 5% and 0% garlic concentration. An aqueous garlic concentration of 25% can be safely applied on animals to remove ticks and 10% to prevent ticks from attacking animals for a period up to a week. Botanical extracts like garlic are affordable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable way of managing ticks and reducing the incidence of tick borne diseases. Using a mild concentration of 10% garlic concentration can be effective if used at weekly intervals

KEYWORDS:

• Arthropod
• parasites
• mortality
• babesiosis
• acaricide

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank the cattle owners for their invaluable support and cooperation and assistance from the Bindura University of Science Education laboratory, Mr Ronald Kamhapa, Mr Onward Senga, Mr Charles Magogo, and Roger Seyani.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.