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The use of Jatropha curcas leaf extracts in the control of ticks that infest cattle and other large farm animals was studied in the bid to developing environmentally safer acaricides and their attendant deleterious effects on other organisms. Stem-bark of Jathropha curcas was collected from the premises of Federal College of Forestry Jos, air dried, pulverised, sieved and the powder was dissolved in distilled water for 24 hours and then filtered. The filtered solution was used to test for presence phytochemicals. Completely Randomized Design was used to distribute Seven hundred and twenty (720) ticks in petri dishes with tissue papers soaked with the extract; of 4 treatments (length of time of stem-extract storage) and 3 replications. Result showed the presence of the following phytochemicals; glycosides, saponins, alkaloids and tannins in high quantities. Ticks treated with extract at zero hour of storage, resulted to 93% mortality, after 6 hours of storage 84% mortality, after 12 hours of storage, 66% mortality and after 18 hours of storage, 57% mortality. From the finding, as the length of storage increases, the rate of mortality of the ticks decreases. The analysis of variance showed that there are significant differences in mortality existing between the various treatments. Therefore, it is suggested that farmers may use fresh extracts in controlling ticks while further research is being carried out to increase the mortality rate. More research should also be carried out in the area of toxicity or possible side effect, if any on animals. |
