Exploring the Acaricidal Activity of Cissus quadrangularis against cattle ticks
Keywords:
acaricide, chemical acaricides, natural remedy, placebo, bioactive compoundsAbstract
Ticks pose a significant challenge in cattle production, leading to accelerated disease transmission
and substantial economic losses. Chemical acaricides have limitations, including environmental
pollution, inaffordability, and inavailability. Therefore, natural remedies are preferred by most
rural farmers in developing countries like Zimbabwe. Cissus quadrangularis (C.quadrangularis)
is one of the plants used traditionally for medicinal and ethnoveterinary purposes. The study aimed
to evaluate the acaricidal activity of C. quadrangularis extract against cattle ticks. Randomised
controlled trials were conducted on forty cattle infested with ticks. The experimental groups (n =
10) were treated with 1%, 3% and 5% C. quadrangularis extract, and the control group (n = 10)
were treated with a placebo. The assessment was carried out over a 4–8-week baseline, whereby
the extract or placebo was sprayed twice a week for 4 weeks and then weekly for the additional 4
weeks. Tick counts were performed at baseline (Week 0), 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Compared to the
placebo group, the experimental groups showed a reduction in tick counts at 4 weeks and 8 weeks,
respectively. Bioassays (petri dish, tick climbing repellent and fingertip) were also done to
evaluate the repellent effects of C.quadrangularis. The assays demonstrated acaricidal activity of
C.quadrangularis against cattle ticks, offering a promising natural remedy for tick control that
can be considered as an alternative to synthetic acaricides, and for inclusion in the Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) methods. Further studies are needed to determine and validate the
bioactive compounds in C. quadrangularis that possess acaricidal activity.
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