THE ACARICIDAL EFFICACY OF DILUTED ORIGANUM VULGARE (OREGANO) LEAVES OIL AS DOG SHAMPOO AGAINST RHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEUS (BROWN DOG TICK)

Abstract

Tick infestation is a prevalent parasitic problem affecting dogs. In the Philippines, the most common ectoparasite of dogs is the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), primarily due to its adaptation to the tropical lineage of both domestic and wild dogs. As a result, tick infestation has become a major concern for pet owners because of the harm ticks can cause. Chemical acaricides were initially used to control tick populations; however, ticks can adapt over time, leading to acaricide resistance in both ticks and their offspring. The current approach focuses on developing natural alternatives to chemical acaricides to prevent resistance. This study aimed to determine whether oregano-based dog tick shampoo can serve as an alternative to commercially available dog shampoos. An experimental research approach was employed in this study. A total of 150 brown dog ticks were collected and subjected to five treatment groups using shampoos with different concentrations of oregano oil (0.00%, 2.08%, 2.76%, and 3.42%) and a commercially available shampoo (Fipronil Furfect Shampoo). The efficacy of each shampoo was tested in three replicates by exposing the ticks in petri dishes for 10 minutes. Mortality rate was recorded, and knockdown time was determined based on the time required for all ticks to cease exhibiting life-related symptoms. The results showed that Formula 4, containing 3.42% oregano oil, produced the highest mortality rate at 47% compared to the other treatments. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean knockdown time among all treatments, with a significance value of 0.214. Additionally, Formula 4 demonstrated the highest mortality rate when compared to the commercially available shampoo. However, no significant difference in mean knockdown time was observed between the oregano-based shampoos and the commercial shampoo, with a reported significance value of 0.119. Overall, the findings indicate that oregano-based dog tick shampoo has the potential to serve as an alternative to commercially available dog tick shampoos.