Jornal de Ecossistema e Ecografia

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In Vitro Acaricidal Effect Of Neem Leaves (Azadirachta Indica) and Citrullus Colocynthis Extracts against the Camel Ticks, Hyalomma Dromedarii (Acari:Ixodidae)

Osman M. Mahran, Ahmed A. Wahba and Mogda K. Mansour

The present study aimed to screening the acaricidal potential of methanolic extract of neem leaves and different concentrations of Citrullus colocynthis extract against adult females, eggs hatchability and larvae of camel ticks, Hyalomma dromedarii (H. dromedarii). in vitro using immersion method. Acaricidal activity of each plant (time-mortality and failure hatchability experiment) was evaluated at three different exposure times 10, 20 and 30 minutes at 1st, 2nd, 3rd 7th and 15th day post treatment (DPT). The results of control on engorged female H. dromedarii ticks with methanolic extract of neem leaves showed that it had an acaricide activity, induced a high increase in mortality rates from 1st to 15th DPT (up to 100%), with some changes in morphology. Also, there was a high effect of methanolic extract of neem leaves on hatchability of H. dromedarii eggs (100%) from 1st up to 15th DPT. For the newly hatched larvae the present study demonstrated that methanolic extract of neem leaves induced 100% mortality on the newly hatched larvae of H. dromedarii tick at 1st and 2nd DPT. On the other hand, Citrullus colocynthis extract induced moderate or lowest acaricidal efficacy on adult H. dromedarii ticks, eggs hatchability and newly hatched larvae.  Also, variation had been recorded in acaricidal effect between the different concentrations of Citrullus colocynthis, where the methanolic extracts of whole fruits, seeds and surface fruits resulted in moderate acaricidal effects on  adults, larval mortality and eggs hatchability respectively. On the other hand, water extract concentrations had low acricidal effect. This study implied that the acaricidal effect of methanolic extract of neem leaves was found to be more effective and could be economically used for controlling H. dromedarii ticks than Citrullus colocynthis extract.