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Assessment of cattle tick infestation: Molecular insights into Rhipicephalus annulatus and the efficacy of garlic oil and nanoemulsion as acaricidal agents

Research Authors
Salwa Mahmoud Abd-Elrahman, Ahmed Kamal Dyab, Fatma Atea Kamel, Abeer A. Khedr, Mervat M. Khalifa , Shaymaa M. Mohamed, Sara Salah Abdel-Hakeem
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Veterinary Parasitology
Research Publisher
elsevier
Research Vol
329
Research Website
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304401724000992?dgcid=coauthor
Research Year
2024
Research_Pages
110211
Research Abstract

Ticks, particularly Rhipicephalus annulatus, pose significant threats to livestock, causing economic losses and transmitting various infectious diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the potential acaricidal properties of garlic oil and its nanoemulsion against ticks infesting cattle, Rhipicephalus annulatus through the evaluation of mortality rate and morphological changes of the treated ticks. The study also included prevalence, risk factors, and molecular confirmation of tick species. Genetic characterization confirmed the identity of R. annulatus. Our results revealed a high prevalence of R. annulatus (46.9%) with a higher risk in male cattle (50%) than females (44.9%) and a nonsignificant high infection (49.1%) in animals ≤ 1-year-old. The acaricidal efficiency of garlic oil and its nanoemulsion was concentration and time-dependent. The high concentration of garlic oil (20 mg/L) induced complete mortality within 48 hours. The nanoemulsion formulation enhanced efficacy, particularly at 5 mg/L, which exhibited rapid and substantial acaricidal activity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed morphological alterations induced by garlic oil and its nanoemulsion, including changes to the anterior capitulum, dorsal, and ventral cuticles. The study contributes to the exploration of effective, safe, and eco-friendly alternatives for tick control. Further research is warranted to validate their efficacy under diverse conditions and assess practical strategies.