Acaricidal action of ozone on larvae and engorged females of Rhipicephalus microplus : a dose-dependent relationship

The tick Rhipicephalus microplus is a vector of infectious agents that causes great economic loss in the productivity of cattle herds. Several studies have sought natural compounds with acaricidal activity to control ticks, without allowing the development of resistance, without causing environmental damage, and without presenting toxicity to the hosts. The activity of ozone on the natural biomolecules of living beings has been studied as an alternative to control arthropods and acaricidal effects were shown on ticks. The aim of the present study was to assess the acaricidal effect on larvae and engorged females of R. microplus according to ozone dose. Larvae (n = 377) were distributed in 10 groups and engorged females (n = 284) were distributed in 14 groups. One group was used as control (not exposed to ozone) and the other groups were exposed to ozone gas for 5–105 min. Ozone had a dose-dependent acaricidal effect on both larvae and engorged females. Dosages between 355 and 2130 mg/L min had a delayed acaricidal effect (12–180 h), leading to the death of all engorged females before laying eggs, whereas doses between 3195 and 7455 mg/L min showed immediate acaricidal effect (5 min to 4 h). Doses between 1775 and 6390 mg/L min had an immediate (up to 5 min) acaricidal effect on the larvae of this species. Further studies should consider longer follow-up times during the assessment of the acaricidal activity against ticks.