Progress in the development of plant biopesticides for the control of arthropods of veterinary importance

Abstract

Arthropods are infesting mammals, birds, and reptiles throughout the world and possess serious threat to economical livestock production industries. Besides causing direct effect on hosts through sucking of blood, irritation, damage of skin, retarded growth, and loss of production, they transmit a number of viral, rickettsial, bacterial, and protozoan diseases affecting wild, domestic animals and humans. For the control of these serious pests, synthetic chemicals are continuously used which possess inherent toxicities that endanger the health of farm operators, consumers, and the environment. Negative effects on human health led to resurgence in interest in botanical insecticides because of their minimal costs and ecological side effects. Botanicals affect only target pests and closely related organisms, are effective in very small quantities, decompose quickly, and provide residue-free food and safe environment to live. As an integrated pest management program, botanicals can greatly reduce the use of conventional insecticides or be used in rotation or in combination with other insecticides, thereby reducing the use of conventional insecticides and possibly mitigate the development of resistance in pest populations. Plant-based insecticides induce not only acute toxicity to pests but also deterrence and/or repellence which may contribute to overall efficacy against some pests that cause great economic losses as well as transmit diseases to animals and humans. The present review is focused on progress in the development of plant-based insecticides effective against ticks, flies, lice, and mite infestations on milk- and meat-producing animals.