POTENTIAL OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF ROSEMARY (Lippia grata Schauer) AS AN ACARICIDAL AGENT IN THE CONTROL OF THE BROWN DOG TICK (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

Abstract

Ectoparasites such as ticks, fleas and scabies are common in domestic animals, and treatment for infestation is most often done through synthetic drugs. There are several species in Brazil, including Rhipicephalus sanguineus, which has dogs as its main host. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro parasiticidal activity of the aqueous extract of Lippia grata leaves on the oviposition of engorged females and the hatching of eggs from ticks of the species R. sanguineus. Phytochemical tests were carried out from the extract to detect chemical groups. As for tests with ticks, engorged ticks were collected from naturally infested dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). The ticks were homogenized by weight in groups of ten females per treatment, totaling 180 specimens. Using a spray bottle, the following treatments were sprayed: extracts at concentrations of 10%, 5%, 2.5% and 1.25%, distilled water (negative control) and Amitraz (positive control). After spraying, the teleoginas were fixed in petri dishes and placed in B.O.D to observe oviposition and hatchability, thus evaluating reproductive efficiency. The toxicity of the treatments was carried out on the microcrustacean Artemia salina. As a result, the lowest hatching rate observed was 31.96% at a concentration of 1.25%, with Reproductive Efficiency and Product Efficiency presenting the same result of 65.55%. It is concluded that the extract had no effect on the mortality of teleoginas, however it interfered with reproductive efficiency and presented product efficiency. The extract did not prove to be toxic in the test on A. salina.