Assessment of Acaricidal Activity of NeemAzal Washing Emulsion Using Dogs under Field Conditions in Zaria

Abstract

Twenty dogs visually confirmed to be infested with ticks were tropically treated with NeemAzal® washing emulsion with the aim of determining its acaricidal activity under field conditions. The dogs were treated twice within an interval of three days. Tick counting was carried out on days 0,3 and 6; [before treatment and three days after each treatment]. The number of attached ticks on the predilection sites (ears, around the neck region and feet of the dogs) were counted. The data generated suggested that this product had acaricidal activity with the highest percentage of tick reduction after 1st treatment at 86%2% and 2nd treatment at 96.6%. The oil based nature of the product posed some aesthetic problems to dog owners and also the product failed to attain 99.9% tick reduction within 3 days of treatment; a property that should be exhibited by any good acaricide used on dogs.