MN Islam¹*, MM Islam³, Sharifuzzaman², MM Rahman¹, M Mostofa¹

¹Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
²Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
³Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

The effects of neem seeds against tick infestation in caleves were investigated in this study. The clinical and hematological parameters of treated and non treated tick infested calves were also studied. Ivermectin was used as a reference acaricidal drug. The neem seeds were collected from local market of Mymensingh district and proceed for making dust and prepared aqueous solution to use as spray. A total of 15 calves were examined for the presence of ticks by physical examination and were divided into three equal groups as, Group A (infected control group), Group B (treated with neem) and Group C (treated with ivermectin). The number of tick, feeding efficiency skin lesion, body weight and blood parameters like hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total leukocyte count (TEC) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were investigated at pre treatment (0 day) and post treatment periods (7th , 14th , 21st  and 28th  day). Neem seed spray at 1% was found effective against tick infestation with 70% reduction of tick at 7th day post treatment and 100% reduction after 14th day post treatment. Ivermectin was found 100% effective as early as 7th day post treatment. The feeding efficiency was increased following treatment with both neem and ivermectin. The skin lesion due to tick infestation at pre treatment period was also cured and became shiny with increasing the post treatment period. The body weight of calves were significantly increased ((P<0.05) at 11.41% and 12.68% while treated with neem seed and invermectin, respectively. The Hb content, PCV, TEC an ESR values were also significantly changed (P<0.05) following treatment with both neem and invermectin as compared to non treated control. The study suggests that neem as an alternative of chemical acaricide can be used against tick infestation in calves with health benefit of calves.

Key words: Neem seed, ivermectin, tick and calves

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +8801712529107
E-mail address: nazrul.cip@gmail.com (MN Islam)                                                                                                           Full Text (PDF)