Abstract Nasopharyngeal myiasis of camels is caused by the
larvae of Cephalopina titillator. We determined the efficacy of
essential oils (EOs) of pumpkin, Cucurbita maxima; lupinus,
Lupinus luteus; garlic oil, Allium sativum; and peppermint,
Mentha piperita, against the third larval stage of C. titillator
using larval immersion tests. The positive control group was
treated with ivermectin and the negative control one was
treated with distilled water and few drops of Tween 80.
Larvae were reared until adult emergence. The data indicated
that complete larval mortalities were reached 24 h post treatment
(PT) with 2 % pumpkin, 7.5 % garlic and peppermint,
30 % lupinus, and 0.15 % ivermectin. The lethal values,
LC50s, were 0.20, 0.44, 0.42, 0.47, and 0.03 %, respectively.
Pumpkin and ivermectin were 2 and 17 times, respectively,
more effective than the other EOs. Ivermectin was seven times
more intoxicating than pumpkin oil. Formation of pupae had
been stopped after treatment of larvae with 2 % pumpkin,
7.5 % garlic and peppermint, 30 % lupines, and 0.04 %
ivermectin. Adult emergence had been completely ceased
following treatment of larvae with 0.5 % EOs and 0.04 %
ivermectin. Morphological abnormalities were pronounced
after treatments, and peppermint oil was the foremost cause
of deformation in larvae (44 % PT with 7.5 %) and pupae
(40 % PT with 2 %). Pumpkin oil (6 %) was selected to be the
drug of choice for controlling C. titillator. Besides their insecticidal
effects, EOs are much safer than ivermectin regarding
health and environmental issues. Consequently, EOs described
herein merit further study as potential nasal drench
for C. titillator control. |
