Comparing acaricidal efficacy of water and ethanol based extracts of Tephrosia vogelii leaves on rhipicephalus Appendicuutus ticks in Mella sub/county, Tororo District.

Abstract

Ticks are ecto-parasites and vectors of diseases with & feat impacts on the animal sector. Medicinal plants have been exploited to manage these ticks. In this study, the efficacy of Tephrosia vogelii plant extracts on Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks were assessed to determine mortality rates using the ethanol and water based extracts, with untreated ticks used as a control experiment.The infested animals were sprayed with the extracts after taking the-initial tick count,48 hours after spraying; the number of dead ticks was counted with difference from the live one for 5 days. The ticks treated with the water based extracts of T.V showed a low mortality rate, while those treated with ethanol based extract showed a higher mortality rate due to complete dissolution of the active, ingredients into the solvent. Therefore, the ethanol based extract was found to be more effective in tick control and hence a viable option for use by resource constrained commercial farmers.