Acaricidal effect of eleven essential oils against the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae)

Abstract

The acaricidal effect of eleven essential oils (Sweet basil, Common juniper, Atlas cedar, Coriander, Blue gum, European silver fir, Common lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Scots pine, Summer savory) against poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae was tested in vitro using the direct contact method, at three different doses: 0.2 mg/cm 2 , 0.4 mg/cm 2 and 0.6 mg/cm 2 . The results of the study revealed that oils of sweet basil, coriander, peppermint and Summer savory were the most effective.

Full text

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Acaricidal effect of eleven essential oils against the poultry red mite
Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae)
Cristian Magdaş
1

, Mihai Cernea
2
, Horea Baciu
1
, Eronim Şuteu
1
1 – University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of
Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
2 – University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of
Pharmacology, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Correspondence: Tel. + 40264596384; Fax +40264593792; Email c_magdas@yahoo.com
Abstract. The acaricidal effect of eleven essential oils (Sweet basil, Common juniper, Atlas cedar, Coriander, Blue
gum, European silver fir, Common lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Scots pine, Summer savory) against poultry red
mite Dermanyssus gallinae was tested in vitro using the direct contact method, at three different doses: 0.2
mg/cm
2
, 0.4 mg/cm
2
and 0.6 mg/cm
2
. The results of the study revealed that oils of sweet basil, coriander,
peppermint and Summer savory were the most effective.
Keywords: Dermanyssus gallinae; Essential oils; Layers; Transylvania; Romania.
Received 19/04/2010. Accepted 15/06/2010.
Introduction
In the last years, Dermanyssus gallinae
infestation represents a major problem in
poultry industry; the economic and animal
health impact are important and farmers need
adequate therapeutic measures to control this
parasite (Meyer-Kühling et al., 2007; Roy et al.,
2009; Sparagano et al., 2009). This blood-
feeding mite causes production losses due to
irritation and anemia, but may even cause
death of its host and is also involved in
transmission of many pathogenic agents
responsible for severe outbreaks in both
animals and humans (Chirico and Tauson,
2002; Valiente Moro et al., 2009). With this
view, there is constant need for alternative
control measures to maintain a good animal
health in aviary systems.
The most common form to control D. gallinae
infestation worldwide rely mostly on the use of
various synthetic contact acaricides such as
permethrin, carbaryl, diazinon, dichlorvos,
which although effective, their repeated use
leads often to the development of resistance
and further, the residues in eggs and meat are a
highly important problem for human health
(Kim et al., 2007). Issues like the icreased
resistance to some synthetic acaricides,
legislative changes that promote open system
rearing instead of conventional caging will
make that in the near future many more of the
world’s 2.8 billion laying hens (11.7% of which
are located in the EU) to suffer as a result of D.

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gallinae infestation if alternatives to synthetic
acaricides are not sought (George et al., 2010).
Acaricide/insecticide activity of some plant
extracts was used in Asia, since thousand years
ago. On global level, issues related to drug
chemical pollution, through the accumulation
of residues with active potential (mutagenic,
carcinogenic, teratogenic) in products from
animals treated with antiparasitic synthetic
molecules are increasingly studied (Cernea,
2006). Route avoidance of these drawbacks
could be the use of vegetable organic
pharmaceuticals (Lee et al., 1997). Plant
essential oils may be an alternative source of
products used in the treatment of mite
infestations, because they are rich sources of
bioactive chemicals and are commonly used as
fragrances and as flavoring agents for food
additives (Kim et al., 2004). Use of medicinal
plants is currently seen as an alternative
transition from empirical to scientific
phytotherapy, plants representing a
remarkable economic potential source with
broad possibilities for development and
implementation. Application of phytotherapy
in veterinary practice is offering the
development of therapeutic area and, in
combination with other approaches, provides a
higher level of safe therapy, treating carefully
animals, men and environment.
The aim of the present study was to test the in
vitro acaricidal potential of 11 essential oils on
D. gallinae, using the direct contact method.
Materials and methods
Researches performed on D. gallinae mites
collected from five farms of layers using caging
system, from three different counties of
Transylvania, Romania. Mites were collected
from bird cages with the aid of a brush in
plastic jars and were used for tests within 2
days of collection. Until testing, the mites were
kept at 24 C° under a photoperiod of 16:8 h
(light/dark). We have used for tests 11 vegetal
extracts shown in table 1.
Essential oils were used at a rate of 0.2
mg/cm
2
, 0.4 mg/cm
2
,
and 0.6 mg/cm
2
; dilution
was made in ethanol. Strips of filter paper with
the dimension of 10/100 mm were
impregnated with essential oils at rate of 10 µl
suspension/cm². After storage in a fume
cupboard to allow the evaporation of ethanol,
the strips were introduced in Pasteur pipettes,
and 20 mites (adult females of D. gallinae)
were then introduced in each pipette by means
of a vacuum pump. Three filter paper strips
were impregnated for each concentration and
three additional strips were impregnated with
ethanol and dried, representing the controls.
All the pipettes were stored at dark and
mortality was determined at 24, 48 and 72
hours of contact, under stereomicroscope.
Mites were considered dead if no movement
was observed at repeated agitation of the
pipettes.
Table 1. Vegetal extracts tested on D. gallinae mites
collected from 5 layer farms
Common name
(Abbreviation) Latin name
Sweet basil (SB) Ocimum basilicum
Common juniper (CJ) Juniperus comunis
Atlas cedar (AC) Cedrus atlantica
Coriander (C) Coriandrum sativum
Blue gum (BG) Eucalyptus globulus
European silver fir (ESF) Abies alba
Common lavender (CL) Lavandula angustifolia
Lemon (L) Citrus limon
Peppermint (P) Mentha x piperita
Scots pine (SP) Pinus sylvestris
Summer savory (SS) Satureja hortensis
Standard deviation (SD) was calculated using
software Statistica 9.0 (StatSoft ®).
Results
Acaricidal effect of the 11 essential oils against
D. gallinae mites, at different oils dose is shown
in table 2.
For the dose 0.2 mg/cm
2
of essential oils, after
24 hours of contact, a very low efficacy was
recorded for lemon (3.3%) and European silver
fir (5%). Best efficacy after 24 hours of contact,
with >90% mortality was recorded fort the oils
of sweet basil 0.6 mg/cm
2
, coriander 0.4 and
0.6 mg/cm
2
,
peppermint 0.6 mg/cm
2
and
summer savory 0.6 mg/cm
2
.
After 48 hours of contact, mortality >90% was
recorded for the oils of sweet basil tested at 0.6
mg/cm
2
, coriander 0.4 and 0.6
mg/cm
2
, Blue
gum 0.6 mg/cm
2
, lavender 0.6 mg/cm
2
,

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peppermint 0.4 and 0.6 mg/cm
2
, summer
savory 0.4 and 0.6 mg/cm
2
.
Mortality was > 90% after 72 hours of contact
for the extracts of basil 0.4 and 0.6 mg/cm
2
,
Atlas cedar 0.6 mg/cm
2
, coriander 0.4 and 0.6
mg/cm
2
, blue gum 0.6 mg/cm
2
, lavender 0.4
and 0.6 mg/cm
2
, peppermint at all the
concentrations and summer savory 0.4 and 0.6
mg/cm
2
. A low efficacy, with mortality <50%
after 72 hours of contact was recorded at the
extracts of common juniper 0.2 and 0.4
mg/cm
2
, European silver fir 0.2 mg/cm
2
, lemon
0.2 and 0.4 mg/cm
2
and Scots pine 0.4 mg/cm
2
.
Table 2. Acaricidal effect of the 11 essential oils against
D. gallinae collected from 5 layers farms
Average mortality (%)
(mean ± SD)
Essential
oil Dose*
24 h 48 h 72 h
0.2 51±2.2 65±5.3 75±3.1
0.4 77.6±2.5 86.6±5 96.6±3.6
SB
0.6 100±0.0 100±0.0 100±0.0
0.2 12.3±5.6 26.6±4.3 43.3±3.6
0.4 8.3±6.1 25±8.6 45±2.2
CJ
0.6 13.3±5.2 28.3±2.5 55±1.2
0.2 26.6±4.9 71.6±4.3 81.6±3.1
0.4 38.3±4.7 85±2.3 88.3±2.3
AC
0.6 41.6±10.1 83.3±2.7 91.6±1.1
0.2 56.6±11.4 83.3±2.1 90±1.1
0.4 100±0.0 100±0.0 100±0.0
C
0.6 100±0.0 100±0.0 100±0.0
0.2 30±6.1 73.3±4.3 80±2.3
0.4 51.6±4.2 78.3±4.1 81.3±2.3
BG
0.6 80±3.4 93.3±2.7 100±0.0
0.2 5±3.5 13.3±2.8 26.6±8.2
0.4 15±3.5 26.6±3.5 55±8.2
ESF
0.6 13.3±2.8 23.3±4.3 50±11.2
0.2 18.3±8.1 50±6.1 78.3±3.9
0.4 38.3±4.1 71.6±3.7 93.3±2.3
CL
0.6 61.6±2.2 98.3±2.1 98.3±1.2
0.2 3.3±2.3 8.3±3.1 16.6±2.4
0.4 8,3±2.4 18.3±3.1 36.6±2.2
L
0.6 11.6±2.4 18.3±2.4 65±2.5
0.2 53.3±9.8 85±4.2 93.3±1.7
0.4 55±6.3 98.3±3.1 100±0.0
P
0.6 96.6±3.1 100±0.0 100±0.0
0.2 21.6±4.6 40±3.9 58.3±3.7
0.4 25±4.1 33.3±3.1 46.6±8.6
SP
0.6 26.6±3.7 35±2.7 76.6±2.9
0.2 56.6±5.6 66.6±3.3 76.6±2.2
0.4 90±3.4 100±0.0 100±0.0
SS
0.6 100±0.0 100±0.0 100±0.0
Control 0 0 3.3
* mg/cm
2
essential oils
Discussions
Many essential oils are known to have various
efficacies such as ovicidal, repellent, anti-
feeding or other biocidal activities against
various parasitic arthropods (Isman, 1999). A
92% reduction of D. gallinae populations was
recorded after testing cardboard traps
containing 20% neem oil (Azadirachta indica)
in a floor system for layers by Lundh et al.
(2005). Pure garlic (Allium sativum) juice and
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum cinerariae-
folium) high concentration extract were found
effective against D. gallinae by Maurer et al.
(2009).
The acaricidal activity of methanolic extracts
from 40 oriental medicinal plant species and a
steam distillate of
Camphor tree
(Cinnamomum
camphora) against D. gallinae was tested by Kim
et al. (2007), the results showing C. camphora
steam distillate to be the most toxic, followed by
extracts from Asarum sieboldii var. seoulens,
Eugenia caryophyllata and Mentha arvensis var.
piperascens. The acaricidal activity of some plant
extracts was almost comparable to that of some
synthetic acaricides like profenofos,
benfuracarb, prothiofos, propoxur and fenthion.
Kim et al. (2004) reported 100% mortality on D.
gallinae after testing bay, cade, cinnamon, clove
bud, coriander, horseradish, lime, mustard,
pennyroyal, pimento berry, spearmint, red
thyme and white thyme essential oils at 0.07
mg/cm
2
. Comparing our results for some of the
extracts what these authors tested, for the
extracts of coriander and summer savory we
obtained the same 100% mites mortality after
24 hours of contact, but at the dose of 0.4 and
0.6 mg/cm
2
respectively. Results were different
for the extracts of common juniper, Atlas cedar,
blue gum, European silver fir, common
lavender, and lemon for which previous authors
noted 100% mortality at the dose of 0.35
mg/cm
2
, and our studies revealed a mortality of
the mites between 8.3-51.6% at the dose of 0.4
mg/cm
2
.
Testing four species of the genus Eucalyptus (E.
citriodora, E. radiata, E. globulus and E.
staigeriana), George et al. (2009) found E.
citriodora as the most effective, with 85%
mortality in D. gallinae over a 24 h exposure
period in contact toxicity tests. E. globulus and

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E. radiata, provided significantly lower mite
mortality (11 and 19%, respectively). Also
notable differences were found between the
Eucalyptus essential oils regarding their
chemical compositions. In our study, we found
an efficacy of E. globulus essential oil between
30-80% after 24 hours of contact, depending
on the dose. Differential susceptibility of adult
D. gallinae to the essential oils from the same
plant genus was also observed by Kim et al.
(2004) for seven Citrus, three Cymbopogon, two
Eucalyptus, two Juniperus, three Mentha, two
Origanum and two Pimenta species. Numerous
factors like geographic origin, seasonality,
method of oil extraction, year of harvest and
even storage conditions can affect the
composition of essential oils, so the results
from different toxicity studies might not always
be the same (Chalchat et al., 2007; Flamini and
Cioni, 2007; Raal et al., 2007). This could
explain the differences in efficacy for the
essential oils we tested, comparing with the
studies of other authors.
Compounds of plant origin could represent a
valid alternative to synthetic drugs and indeed,
in recent years, several studies have reported
acaricidal activity of natural plant extracts
against Psoroptes cuniculi, Varroa destructor,
Acarapis woodi, Dermatophagoides farinae and
D. pteronyssinus (Miyazki et al., 1989;
Watanabe et al., 1989; Imdorf et al., 1999; Rice
et al., 2002; Macchioni et al., 2004). George et
al. (2010) tested 7 essential oils (manuka, cade,
pennyroyal, thyme, garlic, clove bud and
cinnamon bark) previously found to be
effective adulticides against D. gallinae, on two
model non-target species, the brine shrimp,
Artemia salina and the mealworm beetle,
Tenebrio molitor. Results showed that not all
essential oils were as toxic to A. salina and T.
molitor as they were to D. gallinae, excepting
garlic. Variation seen in the toxicity of selected
essential oils to A. salina and T. molitor is
favorable to the development of these essential
oils as acaricides for use against D. gallinae in
poultry systems, based also on their minimal
impact on non-target organisms.
Variation in essential oil chemistry has been
identified as an issue that might need to be
addressed if such products are to be reliably
used in pest management (Isman, 2008).
Essential oils with complex chemical
compositions may have an additional
advantage over simpler oils if they are used as
pesticides. As a benefit of such products if they
are used for pest management would be that
the numerous active compounds in essential
oils would make development of pest
resistance to any essential oil-based product
extremely difficult (Miresmailli et al., 2006).
However, when selecting an essential oil to
develop it in use for D. gallinae control, care
must be taken, because of their inconsistence
in efficacy. On the other hand, because certain
plant extracts and essential oils meets the
criteria of minimum risk pesticides, much
effort must be focused on them and their
constituents as potential sources of
commercial acaricides.
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