Tagetes Minuta Linnaeus
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Arom & at al ic in P l ic a n d t Andreotti et al., Med Aromat Plants 2014, 3:4 e s M Medicinal & Aromatic Plants DOI: 10.4172/2167-0412.1000168 ISSN: 2167-0412 ResearchReview Article Article OpenOpen Access Access Tagetes minuta Linnaeus (Asteraceae) as a Potential New Alternative for the Mitigation of Tick Infestation Renato Andreotti*, Marcos Valério Garcia, Jaqueline Matias, Jacqueline Cavalcante Barros and Rodrigo Casquero Cunha EMBRAPA Beef Cattle, Avenida Radio Maia, 830-Vila Popular, Caixa - 154, CEP79106-550, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil Abstract Ticks are hematophagous parasites of most vertebrate animals and can transmit various pathogens. After mosquitoes, ticks are considered the most prevalent group of ectoparasitic arthropods to transmit pathogens to humans and rank first in the transmission of agents that cause disease in animals. The primary tool used to control these ectoparasites is the use of chemical products; however, resistance to several of these chemical compounds has already been reported in various locations worldwide. Considering this reality, several studies of plant extracts have been developed aiming to identify new compounds that are able to control ticks. In this context, the essential oil of Tagetes minuta may be a promising alternative in the control of some species of ticks. T. minuta is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family Asteraceae and is popularly known in Brazil as “cravo-de-defunto” or wild marigold. In this review, we highlight four species of ticks that are considered important for both animal and public health in Brazil. Here, we address the methods of tick control to provide a foundation for new studies and highlight the use of phytotherapeutic T. minuta as a promising alternative in the control of these ectoparasites. Keywords: Control tick; Phytotherapeutics; Ectoparasites in Brazil is “cravo-de-defunto” [13]. This plant is used in folk medicine and grows in temperate regions of South America [14]. Introduction The tick species discussed in this review are largely important for Ticks are hematophagous parasites [1] of most vertebrate animals domestic and production animals and are immensely important to and can transmit various pathogens [2]. After mosquitoes, ticks are public health in Brazil. Difficulties related to the methods of control are considered the most prevalent group of ectoparasitic arthropods to discussed to encourage further research. The use of phytotherapeutic transmit pathogens to humans and rank first in the transmission of T. minuta is highlighted in this review as a promising alternative for agents that cause disease in animals [3,4]. Ticks belong to the Phylum controlling these ectoparasites. Arthropoda, Class Arachnida, Order Acari and Suborder Ixodida and have a wide geographical distribution. Species of Ticks used in Tests with T. minuta in Brazil Currently, there are over 896 cataloged species of ticks that are Rhipicephalus microplus divided into three families: Argasidae, Ixodidae and Nuttalliellidae R. microplus is known as “cattle tick” (carrapato-do-boi) in Brazil, (which has only one species) [5]. The Brazilian Ixodidae fauna is and cattle are its main host, with preference for Bos taurus compared currently composed of 66 species [6] belonging to nine genera: with B. indicus. Although this tick can parasitize other animals, Ornithodoros, Antricola, Argas, Carios, Amblyomma, Ixodes, domestic or otherwise, it is a monoxenous (one-host) tick. Haemaphysalis, Rhipicephalus and Dermacentor [7]. This species was most likely introduced in Brazil during the early The species of ticks that parasitize domestic animals are usually th the ones that are most studied, with their biology, vector capacity 18 century and is currently found in all regions of the country, with and forms of control being the subject of many studies in the country the intensity of infestation varying according to climatic conditions and [8]. However, the following ticks have the highest incidence in Brazil: cattle breeds [15]. This tick causes major losses in livestock worldwide, Rhipicephalus microplus, R. sanguineus, Amblyomma cajennense and in addition to transmitting several pathogens, most importantly the Dermacentor nitens. pathogens that comprise two well-known diseases collectively known in Brazil as “tristeza parasitária bovina (TPB)” [16] babesiosis, which is The control of these ectoparasites is still performed through the caused by the protozoa Babesia bigemina and B. bovis, and anaplasmosis, use of chemicals. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, which is caused by Anaplasma marginale [17]. Livestock and Supply (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e do Abastecimento - MAPA), for new products to be registered as acaricides, they must present an efficacy of at least 95% [9]. The lack of a program to control these parasites allows the majority of producers to define the *Corresponding author: Renato Andreotti, EMBRAPA Beef Cattle, Avenida Radio criteria for control. The emergence and selection of tick strains that are Maia, 830-Vila Popular, Caixa - 154, CEP79106-550, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil, resistant to these compounds remains a major motivation to develop Tel: 5-67-33682173; E-mail: [email protected] new antiparasitic products [10]. Received May 09, 2014; Accepted August 08, 2014; Published August 11, 2014 Considering this reality, several studies with plant extracts have Citation: Andreotti R, Garcia MV, Matias J, Barros JC, Cunha RC (2014) Tagetes been developed aiming to identify new compounds that are able to minuta Linnaeus (Asteraceae) as a Potential New Alternative for the Mitigation of Tick Infestation. Med Aromat Plants 3: 168. doi: 10.4172/2167-0412.1000168 control ticks. The use of phytotherapeutics obtained from the essential oil of Tagetes minuta is a promising alternative [11,12], but there have Copyright: © 2014 Andreotti R, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits been very few studies on it to date. T. minuta is an annual herbaceous unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. Its best-known common name original author and source are credited. Med Aromat Plants ISSN: 2167-0412 MAP, an open access journal Volume 3 • Issue 4 • 1000168 Citation: Andreotti R, Garcia MV, Matias J, Barros JC, Cunha RC (2014) Tagetes minuta Linnaeus (Asteraceae) as a Potential New Alternative for the Mitigation of Tick Infestation. Med Aromat Plants 3: 168. doi: 10.4172/2167-0412.1000168 Page 2 of 5 R. sanguineus resistance problem, as already reported by several authors in various global locations [33-35]. R. sanguineus is a trioxenous (three-host) tick that feeds primarily on dogs and accidentally on other hosts, including humans [18]. Dogs The lack of new molecules adds an additional layer of complication are the only known primary hosts for the parasitic stages of this tick [19]. to satisfactory tick control. These difficulties are directly related to This tick is an important transmitter of pathogens and is considered the the high costs of research and the lengthy process involved in the main vector of Ehrlichia canis in Brazil, which has been established as development of new chemical formulations. an important zoonotic disease since 1992 [20]. Natural control is the spontaneous regulation by living organisms This ectoparasite can also transmit pathogens such asBabesia (antagonists) of populations of other species of animals with no human canis to dogs and Rickettsia conorii to humans [21]. In the American intervention [36]. The identification of natural control agents, so-called continent, this species of tick transmits other diseases such as Brazilian natural enemies, allows man to manipulate these organisms, producing spotted fever (BSF), which is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, and in them under controlled conditions for subsequent release in areas of Brazil, it is the main transmitter of Hepatozoon canis [22]. interest. The tick R. sanguineus, which is also known as “brown dog tick” or This form of manipulated natural control, deemed biological “carrapato vermelho do cão” in Brazil, is a cosmopolitan species and control, includes artificial, classical and applied controls [37]. Although most likely has a widespread geographical distribution [18,23]. This tick the use of acaricides remains the primary tool for control, other is originally from the African continent, where there are approximately methods such as biological control methods have previously been 79 species of the genus Rhipicephalus [24]. studied and include options involving the use of microbial agents, such as fungi [38], and the action of natural predators, such as the cattle Amblyomma cajennense egret Egretta ibis, which prefers insects but also feeds on ticks [39] and Commonly known as “cayenne tick” (“carrapato-estrela” or on ants [40,41]. Although biological control is a much more attractive “carrapato-do-cavalo” in Brazil), A. cajennense has a three-host life cost/benefit approach compared to other methods, it still does not have cycle and low host specificity and, thus, is able to parasitize several satisfactory applicability in the field. species of domestic and wild animals [25]. Over the last few decades, studies involving the development of It is believed that tapirs (Tapirus terrestris L.) and capybaras vaccines to control ticks have intensified because of the need to replace (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris