Volume 13, Issue 2: 2023 - Article 9

In vitro testing of the acaricidal activity of Moringa oleifera Lam. aqueous root bark extract on adult Hyalomma ticks

Abdullahi A. Biu ¹, Maimunatu A. Abdulkadir ², Umar A. Maina ^3* and Gloria E. Ugwu ^2
1 Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
² Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
³ Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Abstract
Natural products are gradually replacing synthetic products as acaricides. The in vitro acaricidal activity of Moringa oleifera aqueous root bark extract on adult Hyalomma ticks was investigated. Graded concentrations of the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera root bark were tested on 135 adult Hyalomma ticks, weighing between 160 – 300mg. The ticks were randomly assigned into nine groups of five ticks per group in three replicates. The treatment for the groups included concentrations of the extract ranging from 5 – 25 mg/ml, and controls (Distilled water and Normal saline/Petri dish Controls, and Amitraz Positive Control). Acaricidal activity was assessed using the adult immersion test (AIT) at exposure time of 24 and 48 hours. Ticks were considered dead following loss of pedal reflex and motility with darkened cuticles. Results showed a concentration dependent adult tick percentage mortality pattern ranging from 6.7% to 73.3% (highest) recorded at extract concentration of 25mg/ml after 48 hours of exposure, which though lower than the recorded percentage mortality of 100% for Amitraz (the positive control), compared favourably with it. It was concluded that the aqueous root bark extract of Moringa oleifera as used in this study exhibited a concentration dependent acaricidal activity against adult Hyalomma ticks.

Keywords: In vitro testing; Acaricidal activity; Moringa oleifera; Root bark extract; Hyalomma ticks.

How to cite this article:
Biu AA, Abdulkadir MA, Maina UA and Ugwu GE (2023). In vitro testing of the acaricidal activity of Moringa oleifera Lam. aqueous root bark extract on adult Hyalomma ticks. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 13(2): 242 – 248.

*Correspondence: E-mail: mainaumar62@unimaid.edu.ng   Phone: +2348066233100

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