Tick Control Hyalomma rufipes Rhipicephalus microplus Volatile Oil Ethnomedicine Insecticidal Activity Acaricide Resistance

In tropical and subtropical areas, tick infestations are a serious hazard to public health and livestock output. These ectoparasites act as vectors for a variety of zoonotic illnesses in addition to causing anemia, skin irritation, and secondary infections in animals. Due of extensive multi-drug resistance, environmental contamination, and public health issues such residues in meat and milk, conventional chemical acaricides are failing. Because of its antibacterial, insecticidal, and repellant properties, Ocimum gratissimum, often referred to as smell leaf, is widely used in West African ethnomedicine. Using a clevengerClevenger apparatus, the volatile oil was extracted from fresh Ocimum gratissimum leaves. Column chromatography and TLC were then used to fractionate and isolate the oil. The live cow ticks were treated with 20 μL of various oil concentrations (1%, 2%, 5%, and 10%). To assess effectiveness, tick mortality was tracked over a 24-hour period. The volatile oil's effectiveness as a deadly agent against the tick genus Hyalomma rufipes was confirmed when it reached 100% mortality at 10% concentration. The oil maintained a high mean mortality of 86.67±15.28 even at the lowest concentration tested (1%). At concentrations of 2%, 5%, and 10%, the oil completely killed Rhipicephalus microplus in every replicate. A significant mean mortality of 93.3±11.55 was obtained even at the lowest concentration tested (1%). Ocimum gratissimum volatile oil is a particularly good option for developing an integrated tick management product that is ecofriendly, efficient, and sustainable.