The Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is the most important cattle tick in Brazil. For the ticks control, various studies on plants have been developed in an attempt to find extracts with acaricidal properties. This research was aimed at evaluating in vitro and in vivo effects of citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) oil on cattle ticks. Negative control group and eight concentrations of citronella oil and mineral oil (0.5; 1; 2; 5; 10; 20; 50; 100%), were used on in vitro trials with engorged female ticks. The efficacy against cattle ticks was 0; 34.5; 43; 48; 82; 99; 99; 100 and 100%, respectively, for citronella oil. For mineral oil contradictory results of acaricidal efficacy were observed. At the in vivo trial eighteen Holstein cows were allocated to three groups: negative control; citronella oil at 8.6% - level estimated by regression analysis, accounting for 95% efficacy against ticks on in vitro trial and amitraz at 0.025%. Engorged female ticks were counted before, mean of days -3, -2, -1, and after treatment, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days. On the 1st and 2nd milked after treatments, physiologic variables were evaluate (negative control x phytotherapic treatment). The efficacy against tick was 0; 91.3 and 60%, respectively, at 21 days after treatment. Similar results were found with physiologic variables between treatments.
acaricide; cattle tick; Cymbopogon winterianus; lactating dairy cows; phytotherapic