Acaricidal Potentials of Ethanolic extract of Annona muricata Leaves (Sour Sop) against Rhipicephalus species Cattle Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

The invitro toxicity of Annona muricata (Soursop) leaf extract was evaluated in the laboratory against cattle ticks (Rhipicephalus species) using the adult immersion test method. The bioassay was carried out in the laboratory at room temperature by challenging ten active adults Rhipicephalus ticks with five different concentrations of the ethanolic extract in three replicates ranging from 500µl/ml to 31.25μl/ml, including a control group in a completely randomized design (CRD).The mortality rate was monitored at 24 hourly intervals and the acaricidal activity of the extract was evaluated after exposure times of 10, 20 and 30 minutes of 1st, 2nd, 3rd 4th, and 5th-day post-treatment (DPT). Data were analyzed using Log-probit regression analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results indicated that Exposure to A. muricata caused 76.70% and 20% mortality in adult ticks at the highest and lowest concentrations respectively. Results showed dose and time-related mortality responses, and these were significant (P < 0.05).The lethal concentration (LC50) value for A. muricata leaf extract against adult Boophilus ticks was 144.02μl/mL. Since they are inexpensive and environmentally friendly, the study contends that ethanolic extracts of Annona muricata hold great promise as natural alternatives to synthetic acaricides. Further investigation could result in integrated formulations that would be safe for the environment.