Comparative study of the acaricidal activity of cashew balsam and inothrin 5% pour-on (Cypermethrin) on cattle ticks

Abstract

The growing resistance of ticks to synthetic pyrethroids is a serious global problem that is motivating researchers to identify new biomolecules with broad acaricidal activity. Plants and their derivatives are often used in traditional medicine. This is the purpose of the present study which focused on the comparative study of the effect of an ointment based on cashew balsam and inothrin 5% on ticks in Borgou cattle. During the study, ticks were collected on three different farms. They were then identified to specify the tick fauna affecting the cattle. 72 young Borgou cattle aged 1-2 years were divided into six lots of 12 animals and used for the study. Five treatments of cashew balsam and one treatment of 5% inothrin pour-on were used at a frequency of 72 hours with reapplication in the cases where the ticks were still alive. The study showed that the anogenital area is the most infested area by ticks. A lot of animals treated with 25% cashew balsam and 75% shea butter applied directly twice at three-day intervals recorded 100% tick mortality on day 7 and no corrosive effect on the animals' skin. The product inothrin 5% pour-on is as effective on ticks as the ointment with 25% cashew balm and 75% shea butter in direct application.