title: The effect of orally administered Aloe marlothii leaves on Boophilus decoloratus tick burdens on cattle.
abstract: The effect of a decoction of pulverized aloe leaves (Aloe marlothii) mixed with tap water and administered orally through a gastric tube was determined against ticks on cattle. The decoction was administered to six randomly selected calves seven times at 3-day intervals while the remaining calves received an equivalent amount of tap water only. Five hours after first treatment the calves were infested with Boophilus decoloratus larvae hatched from one gram of eggs. Resultant engorged female ticks were collected, counted and weighed daily. Fertility estimates were determined for 30 engorged female ticks collected from each calf in both the treated and control groups of calves. The treatment had no significant effect on total or daily numbers of engorged females collected per group, nor on their biomasses. Fertility estimates showed the treatment group to yield a marginally higher, yet insignificant, egg laying response (ELR) and reproductive estimate (RE).
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Council--Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa. SpickettAM@arc.agric.za
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Spickett
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Der Merwe
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Matthee
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts