A reflection on tick control and the potential role of botanical products in integrated management practices

Tick infestations and tick-borne diseases continue to be the leading causes of loss in livestock and revenue, particularly in developing countries, despite the prevalent use of synthetic acaricides. Research on plants as alternative sources of anti-arthropod agents has received attention from many researchers in the recent past. This interest is mainly motivated by the compelling need to move away from over-reliance on anti-arthropod synthetic chemicals, which have harmful effects on the environment and livestock. While many plants have been shown to possess anti-tick properties, such studies are in the main laboratory-based and thus their effects cannot be accounted for in the natural environments. Furthermore, knowledge on the mechanisms by which plant extracts impact ticks is sparse and not coordinated for ease of reference. The literature explored in this study was collected from indices included in the University of South Africa (UNISA) library database following keyword searches on plant extracts used as tick control methods and reviews. This article provides a consolidation of literature on the anti-tick properties of plant-based material and their prospects for being integrated with current tick control methods.