Acaricidal efficacy of Myrrh (Commiphora molmol) on the fowl tick Argas persicus (Acari: Argasidae)
Massoud, A.M.; Kutkat, M.A.; Abdel Shafy, S.; El-Khateeb, R.M.; Labib, I.M.
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 35(2): 667-686
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 1110-0583 PMID: 16083075 Document Number: 590196
Five concentrations of purified extracts of myrrh from Commiphora molmol tree were prepared to study its effects on the fowl tick Argas persicus under laboratory conditions. The results revealed that myrrh had dose dependent toxic effects on A. persicus female adults. Toxicity increased gradually daily after treatment. The LC50 was 1.28%, 0.88%, 0.84%, 0.50% and 0.42% at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 12th days respectively. At 12th day, the recorded mortality rates were 63, 67, 76, 87 and 94% for concentrations, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10%, respectively against 5% in control. Histopathological and Transmission electron microscope (TEM) examinations showed the lysing of epithelial gut cells in treated groups. Lysed epithelial gut cells showed irregularly distributed nuclei, commonly at low concentrations and rarely in high concentrations of myrrh. Lysed epithelial gut cells, either without nuclei or with aggregated nuclei beside the basal lamina, were common at high concentrations and rare in low concentrations of myrrh. Consequently, myrrh can rapidly penetrate the cuticle to the body cavity, destroy epithelial gut cells and finally cause the death of ticks.