IN VITRO EFFICACY OF NEEM (Azadirachta indica) IN THE CONTROL OF Rhipicephalus sanguineus (LATREILLE, 1806) (ACARI: IXODIDAE)

Fernandes J.I., Correia T.R., Ribeiro F.A., Cid Y.P., Tavares P.V. & Scott F.B. [In vitro efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica) in the control of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae).] Eficacia in vitro do nim (Azadirachta indica) no controle de Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae). Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinaria, 32(Supl. 1):6468, 2010. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidade Federal do Para, Avenida Universitaria, s/n, Campus de Pirapora, Castanhal, PA 68750-000, Brasil. E-mail: fernandesji@ufpa.br. Rhipicephalus sanguineus is a heteroxenous tick which parasitizes various domestic and wild animals, and even the man. The dog is the preferred host, being directly and indirectly affected by this parasite. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of neem in different concentrations on the control of R. sanguineus engorded females through in vitro assays. In the in vitro test, the mean weight of engorged females and their respective oviposition were similar in all experimental groups. However the mean hatching rate for 10% neem was only 26.6%. Also in the in vitro test efficacy rates of 4.1, 35.6, and 72.5% were found for 2, 5 and 10% neem extracts, respectively, against engorged females.