R. Katoch

In Vitro Evaluation of Ethanolic Extracts of Ageratum conyzoides and Artemisia absinthium against Cattle Tick, Rhipicephalus microplus

In vitro efficacy of ethanolic extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Ageratum conyzoides and Artemisia absinthium was assessed on Rhipicephalus microplus using adult immersion test (AIT). Five concentrations of the extract (1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) with three replications for each concentration were used in the bioassay. In AIT, the maximum mortality was recorded as 40% and 66.7% at 20% concentration for A. conyzoides and A. absinthium, respectively. Acaricidal activity was found to be higher in the extract of A. absinthium with LC50 and LC95 values of 11.2% and 61.7%, respectively. Egg mass weight of the live ticks treated with different concentrations of the extracts was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of control ticks; consequently, the reproductive index and oviposition values of the treated ticks were reduced significantly (P < 0.05). The A. conyzoides inhibited 90% hatching of eggs at the 20% concentration, whereas A. absinthium showed 100% inhibition at 5%, 10%, and 20% concentrations. The results show that A. absinthium has better acaricidal properties than A. conyzoides and could be useful in controlling R. microplus.

In Vitro Acaricidal Activity of Atropa belladonna and Its Components, Scopolamine and Atropine, against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

In vitro efficacy of methanolic extract of Atropa belladonna and its components scopolamine and atropine was assessed against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Five concentrations of the extract (1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) were used whereas scopolamine and atropine were each tested at 0.1%. In adult immersion test, the extract was lethal to ticks at 20% concentration. The LC50 and LC95 values were determined as 6.875% and 17.306%, respectively. The extract caused a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in egg mass production at 10% concentration. In larval packet test, the extract was lethal to larvae in the concentrations of 10% and 20% after 24 h, with LC50 and LC95 values of 1.321% and 4.935%, respectively. Scopolamine and atropine showed 93.3% and 60.0% mortality of adult ticks, respectively, but they caused complete (100%) blocking of hatching as well as 100% larval mortality. Scopolamine and atropine were observed to be more potent than the crude extract at an equivalent concentration in both the bioassays.

Incidence of Myiasis and bionomics of cyclorrhaphan flies in small ruminants of Jammu

A study was conducted to determine the incidence of myiasis and bionomics of cyclorrhaphan flies in small ruminants of Jammu. Sheep and goats (10 each) having cutaneous wounds were examined monthly (total 240 animals) for the presence/absence of maggots. The incidence of active maggot wound myiasis was 37.1%. The larvae of Lucilia cuprina were recovered from both sheep and goats whereas Calliphora erythrocephala and Phormia spp. larvae were found only in sheep and Hypoderma spp. larvae only in goats. There were marked seasonal fluctuations in the occurrence of infestation rate of maggots with a significantly (P<0.05) maximum incidence (71.7%) in monsoon season. To study the bionomics of cyclorrhaphan flies, meat pieces of sheep and goats were kept in open field as well as in dairy farm. Eight species viz. Lucilia cuprina, Calliphora erythrocephala, Chrysomyia megacephala, Sarcophaga rufifaciens, Phormia regina, Musca domestica and Stomoxys calcitrans of cyclorrhaphan flies were recorded. The study would help to formulate an appropriate control strategy against cutaneous myiasis causing flies and to minimize the perpetuating financial losses to animal owners in the region.

Occurrence of Chrysomya bezziana in a buffalo in Jammu

Cutaneous myiasis caused by the Old World screw-worm fly, Chrysomya bezziana, is a commonly occurring infestation of livestock and man in Southeast Asian and African countries. A buffalo, aged five years was presented with traumatic wound in the abnormal growth at the base of tail, housing maggots in it. Based on morphological features, the collected larvae were identified as C. bezziana larvae. The first ever occurrence of C. bezziana in a buffalo from this part of country and its public health significance have been discussed.