Larvicidal potential of Sapindus saponaria to control the cattle tick Boophilus microplus

Potencial larvicida de Sapindus saponaria para controle do carrapato bovino Boophilus microplus

SCIENTIFIC NOTES

Larvicidal potential of Sapindus saponaria to control the cattle tick Boophilus microplus

Potencial larvicida de Sapindus saponaria para controle do carrapato bovino Boophilus microplus

Fernando de Freitas Fernandes^I; Edméia de Paula e Souza Freitas^I; Anna Carolina da Costa^I; Ionizete Garcia da Silva^II

^IUniversidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública (IPTSP), Laboratório de Artropodologia Médica e Veterinária, Caixa Postal 131, CEP 74605-050 Goiânia, GO. E-mail: [e-mail]

IIUFG, IPTSP, Laboratório de Bioatividade de Plantas

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the larvicidal potential of a crude ethanol extract (CEE) of soapberry Sapindus saponaria stem peel on the cattle tick Boophilus microplus. Tick larvae obtained by incubating engorged females, collected from naturally infested cattle, were placed in envelopes of filter paper impregnated with different concentrations of CEE in the test group, and distilled water in the control group. Four repetitions were made with each solution (n>120). Mortality was observed after 48 hours. Lethal concentration values of 1,258 ppm (LC₅₀) and 6,360 ppm (LC₉₉) were obtained.

Index terms: Sapindaceae, Ixodidae, botanical acaricide, soapberry, tick control.

RESUMO

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o potencial larvicida do extrato bruto etanólico (EBE), da casca do caule de Sapindus saponaria, sobre Boophilus microplus. Larvas desse carrapato foram obtidas pela incubação de teleóginas, coletadas de bovinos naturalmente infestados. As larvas foram acondicionadas em envelopes de papel-filtro, impregnados com diferentes concentrações do EBE no grupo teste, e com água destilada no grupo controle. Quatro repetições foram feitas com cada solução (n>120). A mortalidade foi observada após 48 horas. Foram obtidas concentrações letais CL₅₀ de 1.258 ppm e CL₉₉ de 6.360 ppm.

Termos para indexação: Sapindaceae, Ixodidae, acaricida botânico, saponácea, controle de carrapatos.

The development of resistance by Boophilus microplus (Can., 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae) to chemical acaricides, in several parts of Brazil (Leite, 1988; Furlong & Martins, 2000; Fernandes, 2001), together with the well-documented damage these compounds cause to the environment and food chain have resulted in a worldwide trend towards reducing their use as much as possible. An alternative of lower environmental impact to the control of cattle ticks would be to use active principles of plants with acaricidal properties, based on encouraging results of experiments with some plants (Prates et al., 1993; Chagas et al., 2002).

Soapberry Sapindus saponaria L. (Sapindaceae) is found in the USA, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, where it occurs in the States of Amazonas, Goiás, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. This tree flowers in July and August and is extensively used in urban landscaping. Its wood is used in construction, as well as in the manufacture of toys, boxes and souvenirs. Its fruits are eaten by bats and are considered to have medicinal properties (Lorenzi, 1992). Fruits and seeds produce a foam due to the presence of saponins. According to Pott & Pott (1994), the triturated fruit can be used as soap and the seeds produce oil which is employed in soap manufacture, as well as being commonly used as an insecticide (Guarin Neto et al., 2000). The crude ethanol extract (CEE) of another member of the same family, the tingui Magonia pubescens St. Hil., has also shown activity against culicine mosquito larvae (Silva et al., 2004). These observations provided the incentive to carry out the present study. The objective of this work was to evaluate the activity of the CEE of S. saponaria stem peel as a potential control measure for larvae of Boophilus microplus.

Samples of S. saponaria stem peel were collected in Goiás, especially in the cities of Formosa and Santa Terezinha. These were transported to the laboratory to obtain CEE using the method of Silva et al. (2004). A 5,000 ppm stock solution was prepared by weighing the CEE on an analytical balance with a precision of 100 µg. After dissolving in distilled water, the CEE was left to stand for about 1 hour, and was homogenized using a magnetic stirrer for about 15 min, then adjusted to the final volume with distilled water. Lower concentrations were obtained sequentially by dilution in distilled water, to determine lethal concentration (LC) values, particularly LC₅₀ and LC₉₉. These were calculated by interpolating the mortalities obtained for different concentrations by means of Probit analysis.

Gravid females of B. microplus were collected from naturally infested cattle, in the vicinity of Goiânia, Goiás, and free of acaricidal residues for at least 45 days prior to the bioassays (Fernandes, 2001). The females were placed in BOD incubators acclimatized to 27±1ºC, RH>80% and a 12:12h photoperiod. In order to obtain larvae of the same age cohort, egg batches were collected daily in separate polyethylene tubes with screw caps.

An established method was used to determine larval susceptibility to CEE-impregnated papers (Fao, 1995; Leite, 1988; Fernandes, 2000, 2001), incorporating slight modifications to improve practicality and reduce cost, without compromising efficiency. The bioassays were carried out in a BOD incubator under the same conditions as described above. Larvae were exposed to the solutions in filter paper envelopes (327 cm²), containing micropores to ensure adequate circulation of air. Each envelope received 2 mL of the solution, distributed uniformly with a pipette on internal surfaces. Envelopes of the control group received only distilled water, since no other solvent was required to solubilize extracts of S. saponaria. Only larvae 14–21 days old were used in the tests, with a minimum of 30 larvae for each envelope. Four replicates were carried out for each solution (n>120 larvae), and mortality was recorded after 48 hours of exposure, when the envelopes were opened and inspected under the stereomicroscope. To permit comparison with results of previous studies, immobile larvae were considered to be dead.

The CEE of S. saponaria showed activity against larvae of B. microplus, with LC₅₀ and LC₉₉ values of 1,258 and 6,360 ppm respectively being obtained (Figure 1). No significant mortality was observed in the control group (p<0.005).

Prates et al. (1993) evaluated larvicidal activity of chemical components of the essential oil of Melinis minutiflora Beauv. on B. microplus, and obtained favorable results, particularly for alpha-pinene. Chagas et al. (2002) evaluated the essential oils of three Eucalyptus species (Myrtaceae) on B. microplus, observing 100% mortality among larvae exposed to concentrations of 10% for E. staigeriana and E. citriodora, and 20% for E. globulus. The results of the present study show S. saponaria to be an even more potent acaricide, since it killed 99% of B. microplus at a concentration of only 6,360 ppm.

It is noteworthy that promising results were obtained using only the stem peel of the plant. Even more satisfactory result may be obtained with other parts of this plant, e.g. seeds and fruits, or with fractions and subfractions of the CEE tested.

The principal advantages of botanical acaricides over chemical compounds include low mammalian toxicity, rapid degradation in the environment, and delayed development of resistance (Chungsamarnyart et al., 1991). Furthermore, it is known that diverse chemical substances isolated from plants are truly novel (Cascon & Gilbert, 2000).

The larvicidal action of S. saponaria could be related to the presence of tannins, similar to those isolated from the CEE of M. pubescens by Silva et al. (2004). Three fractions isolated from this plant presented activity against 3^rd instar larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae). This line of research should be continued, including phytochemical fractionation of S. saponaria, and evaluation of bioactive fractions against B. microplus, as part of the ongoing search for alternatives in the control of ticks and other arthropods of medical and veterinary importance. Furthermore, results of the present study reinforce the importance of S. saponaria as a potentially auto-sustainable resource, among the flora of Brazil and the Americas. Steps should be taken to ensure its preservation in its natural environment.

Acknowledgements

To Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), Secretaria de Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Goiás (SECTEC-GO), and the Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa - UFG (FUNAPE) for the financial support; to CNPq, for scientific initiation fellowship to the second author.

Received on December 15, 2004 and accepted on April 11, 2005

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  01 Feb 2006
• Date of issue
  Dec 2005

History

• Accepted
  11 Apr 2005
• Received
  15 Dec 2004