Essential oils in the management of the donkey louse, Bovicola ocellatus.
Abstract: Chewing lice are widespread and clinically compromising parasites of livestock and equids. Their management is complicated by growing levels of resistance to commonly applied insecticides. Hence, the development of novel approaches to their control is of major clinical interest. Objective: To assess the effects of incorporating the essential oils of tea tree and lavender into a grooming programme for populations of donkeys with natural infestations of Bovicola ocellatus in the UK and Ireland when louse populations were at their winter seasonal peak. Methods: In vivo field trial. Methods: Suspensions of 5% (v/v) tea tree or lavender oil or an excipient only control were groomed into the coats of winter-housed donkeys (n = 198) on 2 occasions, 2 weeks apart. Louse counts were conducted before each application and 2 weeks later. Results: After 2 applications, the groups groomed with lavender or tea tree oil suspensions had a significant reduction in louse intensity, with a mean decline in louse abundance of 78% (95% confidence interval 76-80%). Louse numbers in the groups groomed with excipient only either did not change or increased significantly. Donkey hair length had no effect on the decline in louse numbers. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the inclusion of essential oil suspensions during grooming can be used to manage louse populations successfully.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2015-05-04 PubMed ID: 25756296DOI: 10.1111/evj.12431Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper discusses the use of essential oils, specifically tea tree and lavender, in a grooming routine to manage the infestation of a certain type of lice (Bovicola ocellatus) in donkeys in the UK and Ireland. The study found substantial reduction in louse numbers after two applications, suggesting essential oils can be a successful tool in controlling such parasitic infestations.
Research Objective
- The primary aim of the research was to explore an alternative to insecticides that are currently used to manage lice infestations in donkeys. This is due to rising resistance levels of these parasites to conventional treatments.
- The scientists therefore sought to examine the efficacy of tea tree and lavender essential oils in the management of a specific type of lice, Bovicola ocellatus, in donkeys.
Research Methods
- An in vivo field trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of these essential oils. A total of 198 winter-housed donkeys naturally infested with the lice were groomed with suspensions of 5% tea tree oil, lavender oil, or a control substance.
- This grooming was done twice over a period of two weeks. Lice counts were performed before each application and two weeks after the second application.
Research Findings
- The results indicate that a significant reduction in lice intensity was observed in donkeys groomed with either the lavender or tea tree oil suspension. The mean lice abundance was reduced by approximately 78%.
- Conversely, the lice numbers in the control group (those groomed with the excipient only) either stayed the same or increased significantly.
- The researchers also found that the length of the donkey’s hair did not have any effect on the decrease in lice numbers.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that the addition of essential oil suspensions (specifically, tea tree and lavender) to a grooming routine can significantly reduce louse infestations in donkeys.
- This suggests that essential oils can be an effective solution for managing louse populations in livestock and thus offers a potential alternative to the traditionally used insecticides.
Cite This Article
APA
Ellse L, Sands B, Burden FA, Wall R.
(2015).
Essential oils in the management of the donkey louse, Bovicola ocellatus.
Equine Vet J, 48(3), 285-289.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12431 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Parasitology and Ecology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.
- Veterinary Parasitology and Ecology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.
- The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon, UK.
- Veterinary Parasitology and Ecology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Equidae
- Insecticides / therapeutic use
- Ischnocera / drug effects
- Lavandula
- Lice Infestations / drug therapy
- Lice Infestations / veterinary
- Oils, Volatile / therapeutic use
- Plant Oils / therapeutic use
- Tea Tree Oil / therapeutic use
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