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

Abstract

ABSTRACTTicks 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