E3 Journal of Agricultural Research and Development
E3 Journal of Agricultural Research and Development Vol. 3 (2) pp. 017-021, April 2013; © E3 Journals; ISSN 2276-9897
Tick-repellent properties of four plant species against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann (Acarina: Ixodidae) tick species
Robert Opiro 1 * , Cyprian Osinde 1 , Joseph Okello-Onen 1 , Anne M. Akol 11 Department of Biology, Gulu University, Box 166, Gulu, Uganda
2 Department of Zoology, Makerere University, Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
*Corresponding Author E-mail: famousopiro@yahoo.com
Accepted 1 October 2012
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to investigate the repellence effects of extracts of four plant species on Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Neumann) larvae. The plants were Cissus adenocucaulis F, Cassia didymobotrya Fresen., Kigelia africana(Lam.) Benth. and Euphorbia hirta L. The effects were evaluated by the fingertip repellence bioassay using extracts obtained using three organic solvents of different polarities: methanol, dichloromethane and hexane. The study demonstrated that all extracts evaluated showed a repellence effect that ranged from 43-88%. For all four plant species, the use of different extraction solvents did not significantly vary repellence effect (P>0.05). C. didymobotrya and K. africana showed the best repellence percentages. These indicate the strong potential of these plants for tick control in an integrated tick management system for livestock owned by resource-poor farmers in northern Uganda.
Keywords: ethnobotany, Cassia didymobotrya, Euphorbia hirta, Kigelia africana, Symphostema adedacule, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus
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