In Vitro Mortality Rate of Rhipicephalus microplus Subjected to Treatment with Moringa oleifera Extracts

Abstract

Brazil is one of the world leaders in beef exportation and holds a prominent position in milk production. However, livestock farming faces significant challenges due to tick infestations, particularly Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, which leads to substantial economic losses estimated at $3.2 billion per year. The introduction of taurine breeds, which are more susceptible to these parasites, exacerbates the issue, making research on more effective control methods a priority. This study evaluated the acaricidal potential of aqueous, ethanolic extracts, and the essential oil of Moringa oleifera, a plant known for its therapeutic properties and ease of cultivation in Brazil. The experiment was conducted at Fazenda Lagoa da Cruz, with laboratory analyses carried out at CEPAGRO. The effects of each extract on the mortality of adult female R. microplus were observed at different time intervals after exposure. The results indicated that the essential oil of Moringa oleifera showed efficacy comparable to the commercial acaricide Acatak. However, due to differences in the phytochemicals of each treatment and the lack of mortality in the aqueous extract, there is a hypothesis that the observed mortality in the essential oil could have been caused by a mechanical effect. Due to the oil’s density, the respiratory stigmas of the ticks may have been blocked, resulting in asphyxiation rather than a direct toxic action.