Small-scale On-host Field Trials with Tick Repellent Essential oils in Bungoma County, western Kenya By Wycliffe Wanzala, Ahmed Hassanali, Wolfgang Richard Mukabana and Willem Takken Department of Biological Sciences, Maasai Mara University Department of Chemistry, Kenyatta University School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre,The Netherlands. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Kenya.

Tithonia diversifolia INTRODUCTION Repellency Effect of Essential oil Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Tagetes minuta Tithonia diversifolia Farmers cattle in the field demonstrate The 2 plants were selected from a group of plants TRADITIONALLY used by the Bukusu community for Livestock tick control

MATERIALS AND METHODS Bungoma District Veterinary Office RECORDS from regulated livestock market centres helped identify 15 livestock farmers

MATERIALS AND METHODS (cont’) 15 livestock farmers (volunteers) 3 animals from each farmer (1 for Tm, 1 for Td & 1 for Co) (= 45) 1g of 10% formulation of essential oils Inner part of pinna of both ears was treated 1g of vaseline was used to treat control animals Tick burden was monitored on daily basis for 18 days in collaboration with livestock farmers

RESULTS P > 0.05 Tick species T. minuta T.diversifolia Control Mean (±SE) tick burden on experimental animals selected for different treatments (n=45) Tick species T. minuta T.diversifolia Control Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (♀ + ♂) 61.87±30.62a 48.87±27.74a 63.60±36.76a R. appendiculatus (♂) 38.67±18.47a 24.73±14.59a 32.27±18.19a R. appendiculatus (♀) 23.20±12.92a 24.13±14.73a 31.33±18.60a Other tick species 38.67±21.39a 21.87±11.09a 32.20±21.07a P > 0.05

Treatment effect on Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (♀ + ♂) RESULTS (cont’) Treatment effect on Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (♀ + ♂)

Treatment effect on R. appendiculatus (♂) RESULTS (cont’) Treatment effect on R. appendiculatus (♂)

Treatment effect on R. appendiculatus (♀) RESULTS (cont’) RESULTS (cont’) Treatment effect on R. appendiculatus (♀)

Treatment effect on other ticks RESULTS (cont’) Treatment effect on other ticks

DISCUSSION This field results confirms the laboratory results. (Repellency effect of the two essential oils) Tick burden in both essential oil treatment reduced but the reduction was insignificant in T. diversifolia essential oil treatment (P > 0.05). There was gradual increase in tick burden in the control treatment. Re-infestation started after 10-11 and 8 days post-treatment for T. minuta and T. diversifolia essential oils, respectively. (t0.05 (14) = 4.336, P = 0.001)

CONCLUSION The results suggest the potential for appropriate essential oil formulations in reducing tick burden and associated tick-borne diseases among the resource-limited livestock farming community in tropical Africa.

A questions for debate The fate of repelled ticks from the host animal ?? Effective formulation ? ? Placement of formulation on the host animal ? ?

Thanks for your attention Acknowledgements International Foundation for Science, Sweden International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology Wageningen University and Research Centre