Effects of Azadiracta indica and Duranta erecta on Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus annulatu pests of sheep, in the University of Nigeria, Telefood Research Project farm

Abstract – The ectoparasiticidal properties of methonolic and aqueous leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica (Neem tree)  and Duranta erecta (Yellow bush) were investigated using the adult ticks of the species; Amblyomma vareigatum  and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, collected from the West African Dwarf Sheep(WAD), from University of Nigeria, Telefood Research Project Farm.. Different concentrations of extracts( 0.3g/l, 0.6g/l,0.9g/l and 1.2g/l) were prepared and used for the study. Records of mortality of the ticks were taken for consecutive  6 hours. Results showed that methanolic  extract had the highest effect on the  ticks than its two aqueous extracts (heated and fresh) since it achieved 100% mortality  of the ticks .The photochemical analysis of the extract revealed that cardiac glycosides   and terpenoids were common to both plants, with cardiac glycosides of D.ereta higher  (+++) than that in A. indica (++). The result revealed that the methanolic extract of both plants could be used as an effective biopesticide against ticks of livestock.