Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Acaricide and ovicide activities of thymol on engorged females and eggs of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present work had the objective of evaluating the influence of different concentrations of thymol on the biological parameters of engorged females of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and also its ovicide activity on eggs of this tick. In order to carry out the work, four groups were formed, each containing 20 engorged females, which were immersed for 5 min in different concentrations of thymol (1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) and a control group (water + dimethylsulfoxide). The following biological parameters were observed: initial weight (mg); egg mass weight (mg); pre-oviposition, oviposition, and survival period (days); hatching percentage (%HP); egg production (%EPI) and nutritional (%NI) indexes; and the percentage of control (%C). In order to perform the second stage, thymol solutions were sprayed on the egg masses (50 mg). The parameters’ initial weight and pre-oviposition did not present significant differences (p > 0.05) among the groups. Thymol caused alterations in the parameters egg mass weight, oviposition, survival period, hatching percentage, EPI, and NI, presenting highly significant differences between the treatments and the control group (p < 0.01). The control efficacy was higher than 95% in all the treatments, reaching 99% in the concentration of 2.0%. In the ovicide test, the hatching percentage was not affected in any of the treatments (p > 0.05). In the second experiment, when eggs were treated directly, the thymol did not affect significantly this parameter. These results demonstrate that thymol showed deleterious action on most of the analyzed parameters; thus, it is possible to conclude that, in laboratorial conditions, this monoterpene was efficient in the control of engorged females of R. (B.) microplus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baladrin NF, Klocke JA, Wurtle ES, Bollinger WH (1985) Natural 259 plant chemicals: sources of industrial and medical materials. Science 228:1154–1660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett GF (1974) Oviposition of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acarina: Ixodidae): influence of tick size on egg production. Acarol 16:52–61

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borges LMF, Carneiro JR, Gomes AG, Moreira PC (2001) Influência do peso inicial e da estação do ano na conversão em ovos de fêmeas de Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae). Cienc Animal Bras 2:127–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Chagas ACS (2004) Controle de parasitas utilizando extratos vegetais. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 13:156–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Daemon E, Monteiro CMO, Rosa LS, Clemente MA, Arcoverde A (2009) Evaluation of the acaricide activity of thymol on engorged and unengorged larvae of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1808) (Acari: Ixodidae). Parasitol Res 105:495–497

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drummond RO, Ernest SE, Trevino JL, Gradney WJ, Graham OH (1973) Boophilus anulatus and Boophilus microplus: laboratory tests of insecticides. J Econ Entomol 66:30–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira P, Soares GLG, D'avila S, ECA BESSA (2009) The influence of caffeine and thymol on the survival, growth and reproduction of Subulina octona (BRUGÜIÈRE, 1789) (MOLLUSCA, SUBULINIDAE). Braz Arch Biol Technol 52(4):945–952

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furlong J, Martins JRS, Prata MCA (2004) Controle estratégico do carrapato dos bovinos. A Hora Vet 23:53–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Furlong J, Martins JRS, Prata MCA (2007) O carrapato dos bovinos e a resistência: temos o que comemorar? Controle estratégico do carrapato dos bovinos. A Hora Vet 27:53–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Grisi L, Massard CL, Moya-Borja GE, Pereira JB (2002) Impacto econômico das principais ectoparasitoses em bovinos no Brasil. A Hora Vet 21:8–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Imdorf A, Kilchenman V, Bogdanov S (1995) Toxiziät von thymol; campher, menthol and eucaliptol auf Varroa jacobsoni oud ind Apis mellifera L. in labortest. Apidol 26:27–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsson NN, Piper EK (2007) Integrated control programs for ticks on catle, The University of Queensland, Queensland

  • Labruna MB (2008) Combate contra Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. In: Pereira MC, Labruna MB, Szabo MPJ, Klafke GM (eds) Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus: Biologia, Controle e Resistência. MEDVET, São Paulo, pp 57–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansour SA, Messehea SS, El-Gengaihi SE (2000) Botanical biocides. 4. Mosquitocidal activity of certain Thymus capitatus constituents. J Nat Toxins 9:49–62

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martins JRS, Furlong J, Leite RC (2006) Controle de carrapatos. In: Barros-Battesti DMB, Arzua M, Bechara GH (eds) Carrapatos de importância médico-veterinária da Região Neotropical. Um guia ilustrado para a identificação de espécies. Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, pp 145–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro CMO, Daemon E, Clemente MA, Rosa LS, Maturano R (2009) Acaricidal efficacy of thymol on engorged nymphs and females of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (LATREILLE, 1808) (ACARI: IXODIDAE). Parasitol Res 105:1093–1097

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novelino AMS, Daemon E, Soares GLG (2007a) Evaluation of acaricide effect of thymol, menthol, salycilic acid and methyl salycilate on Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae) larvae. Parasitol Res 101:809–811

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novelino AM S, Daemon E, Soares GLG (2007b) Avaliação da atividade repelente do timol, mentol, salicilato de metila e ácido salicílico sobre larvas de Boophilus microplus (CANESTRINI 1887) (ACARI: IXODIDAE). Arq Bras Med Vet Zootec 59:700–704

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira MC, Labruna MB (2008) Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. In: Pereira MC, Labruna MB, Szabo MPJ, Klafke GM (eds) Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus: Biologia, Controle e Resistência. MEDVET, São Paulo, pp 15–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos AP, Furlong J (2002) Competição intraespecífica em Boophilus microplus. Cienc Rural 32:1033–1038

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker AR, Bouarttour A, Camicas JL, Estrada-Peña A, Horak I, Latif A, Pegram R, Preston P (2003) Ticks of Domestic Animals in Africa. A Guide to identification of Species. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoology Department, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil

    Erik Daemon, Andressa Mendes Ribeiro Silva & Ralph Maturano

  2. Centro de Ensino Superior de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil

    Caio Márcio de Oliveira Monteiro & Carolina Amaral

Authors
  1. Caio Márcio de Oliveira Monteiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Erik Daemon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andressa Mendes Ribeiro Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ralph Maturano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carolina Amaral
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Caio Márcio de Oliveira Monteiro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Oliveira Monteiro, C.M., Daemon, E., Silva, A.M.R. et al. Acaricide and ovicide activities of thymol on engorged females and eggs of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae). Parasitol Res 106, 615–619 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1709-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1709-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation