PEREIRA, J. G.; PEREIRA, Juliana Gomes.
Abstract:
Aqueous extract of pine nut (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.) and of São Caetano melon (Momordica charantia L.) in the control of the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Brazil is a major cattle investor, as well as a producer of meat and milk. This market, however, is affected by the cattle tick. This study aims to analyze the action of the aqueous extract of cotton-leaf physic nut (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.) and bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) against the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. It is an experiment developed in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases in Domestic Animals (LDPAD) of the Academic Unit of Veterinary Medicine (UAMV) of the Rural Health and Technology Center (CSTR) at the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG) in Patos - PB. In this study, 260 female ticks of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus were collected and, among them, 160 were selected. Four groups with 10 engorged females each were formed and distributed as follows: group I and group II represent those that were treated with aqueous extracts, group III and group IV represent the control groups. Three different concentrations of the macerated material were used to prepare the aqueous extracts: 100%, 75% and 50%. To evaluate the effectiveness of the plants on the engorged females, some parameters were analyzed: pre-laying period (PPP), laying period (PP), index of egg production (IPO) and index of reproductive efficiency (IER). The results point to the best efficiency (68%) of the aqueous extract of cotton-leaf physic nut in the higher concentration (100%) and the lowest percentage of hatchability (55%) compared to Amitraz positive control group (73% and 35%). Therefore, the research showed potentially useful efficiency ratios for tick control of the species Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, requiring further testing for toxicity to the host.
