Efficacy of tobacco extract and Flumethrin Pour-on against cattle tick, Amblyomma variegatum

Abstract

The comparative efficacies of topical tobacco extract and flumethrin pour -on against the cattle tick Amblyomma variegatum was evaluated. Thirty Ndama cattle were divided into three treatment groups often animals per group viz: Flumethrin treatment group ; Tobacco treatment group 2 and the untreated control group 3, in a completely randomized design. Ticks were counted visually and by palpation of affected areas at 0.7, 21, 28 and 35-day period. Backline application of flumethrin was from the pole to the base of the tail according to manufacturer's instruction while application of tobacco was through the aid of cotton wool soaked in liquid tobacco extract. The flumethrin pour-on produced a significant reduction in tick count by the 21" day reaching as high as 100 %( 43.33 and 0) while the tobacco extract produced comparable result at a longer time of 35 days (46.22 and 0). The tobacco extract however maintained the protection against Amblyomma variegatum in the face of continuous challenge by injective tick larvae up until the 64" day post challenge. Significant re-infestation of ticks could be seen however in the flumethrin count 40 day post challenge. This confirmed the efficacy of tobacco in protecting cattle against tick, Amblyomma variegatum.