Abstract
The effects of 2 Neem derivatives, Neem oil (NO) and Neem Seed Powder (NSP), on various physiological parameters of the brown ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, the vector for Theileria parva. Neem oil was applied on rabbit ears using a fine brush, whereas NSP was mixed with rabbit pellets at various concentrations and fed on goats on which various instars of the tick were allowed to feed. Tick larvae smeared with Neem oil (NO) while attached to rabbit ears exhibited significant mortalities. The 10% NO induced a mortality of 40% compared to less than 1% observed in Peanut oil (PO) control. Furthermore, engorgement weights were significantly reduced (0.1 mg NO vs 4 mg PO). Their corresponding moulting percentages were 1 and 71% in NO and PO, respectively. Adult female ticks exhibited reduced engorgement weights and egg mass. Larvae able to attach on goats maintained on 100% NSP were only 11% compared to 66% for control goats fed on rabbit pellets (RP). The corresponding nymphal attachments were 24% NSP and 79% RP. The number and weights of eggs produced by adult ticks fed on goats maintained on NSP also dropped significantly. The hatchability of eggs produced by these ticks was also significantly reduced. Key words: East Coast Fever, economic losses, Neem derivatives, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Theileria parva, tick control.
Highlights
East coast fever (ECF) is a cattle disease caused by the protozoan parasite, Theileria parva, transmitted by the brown ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Norval et al, 1992)
Eggs of R. appendiculatus which were exposed to 100% Neem oil (NO) on filter papers and incubated at 28°C and 85% relative humidity for 30 days exhibited significant loss of viability as compared to controls exposed to Peanut oil (PO) in a similar manner (Figure 3)
Neem derivatives when applied on tick eggs or on various developmental stages of the brown ear tick, R. appendiculatus, induced profound pathophysiological effects such as loss of egg viability, mortality, prolonged feeding periods, reduced engorgement weights, difficulty in attachment, reduced moulting, reduced fecundity and egg hatchability
Summary
East coast fever (ECF) is a cattle disease caused by the protozoan parasite, Theileria parva, transmitted by the brown ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Norval et al, 1992). It is the most important disease of cattle in 11 countries in eastern, central and southern Africa, namely; Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe About 28 million cattle in these regions are at risk from ECF (Mukhebi et al, 1992; Laisser et al, 2014) and annual mortality is as high as 40 to 80% among unvaccinated zebu calves (Homewood et al, 2006; Kivaria et al, 2007; Laisser et al, 2014). ECF is a major hindrance to the introduction of improved exotic breeds due to their high susceptibility to ECF (Minjauw and Mc Leod, 2003), a loss referred to as “lost potential” (Gachohi et al, 2012)
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