Association of zein nanoparticles with botanical compounds for cattle tick control

Sunday, November 13, 2022

1:30 PM – 1:42 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 213

Presenting Author(s)

Luis A. Anholeto

Postdoctoral fellow
Embrapa Southeastern Livestock / Acadia University
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada

Co-Author(s)

AF

Amanda Figueiredo

Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho
São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
DC

Diego Cola

Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho
Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
RF

Rafaela Fantatto

Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho
Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
YG

Yousmel Gainza

Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho
Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
IS

Isabella Santos

Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho
Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
LF

Leonardo Fraceto

Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho
Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
NH

N. Kirk Hillier

Professor
Acadia University
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
Nicoletta Faraone

Assistant Professor
Acadia University
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
AC

Ana C. Chagas

Embrapa Southeastern Livestock
São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

Cattle tick control has been limited by the resistance to synthetic acaricides. The use of nanotechnology and the association of synthetic acaricides with botanical compounds is important for the development of new products and as an alternative to improve the acaricidal effect of products against acaricide-resistance tick populations. Zein has been used in nanoformulations development due to its high coating capacity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Mixtures of botanical compounds citral, menthol, and limonene with cypermethrin (CYPE) and chlorpyrifos (CHLO) were encapsulated in zein nanoparticles (ZN) and tested against Rhipicephalus microplus ticks. The formulations were characterized by dynamic light scattering and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The diameter, polydispersion, zeta potential, concentration, and encapsulation efficiency for formulations 1 (ZN+CYPE+CHLO+citral), 2 (ZN+CYPE+CHLO+menthol), and 3 (ZN+CYPE+CHLO+limonene) were monitored for 120 days to check the stability of the formulations. The formulations showed high encapsulation efficiency ( >96%), good physicochemical stability, and effective protection of the compounds against degradation. Formulations 1, 2 and 3 caused 100% mortality on tick larvae exposed to 0.233, 0.116 and 0.058 mg/mL, respectively. The commercial product Colosso® (cypermethrin, chlorpyriphos, and citronella oil: Ouro Fino Brazil) caused 100% mortality when tick larvae were exposed to 0.256 mg/mL. Even at lower concentrations, the nanoformulations maintained larvicidal effects. The LC₅₀ obtained were 0.014, 0.012, 0.012, and 0.032 mg/mL for formulations 1, 2, 3 and Colosso^®, respectively. This nanotechnological formulation utilizing a combination of natural and synthetic products can be part of integrated management solutions for cattle tick control.