Acaricidal effect of Iron nanoparticles against Hyalomma spp. in vitro

Hyalomma spp. is responsible for the transmission of bacterial, protozoan, rickettsial and viral pathogens in animals and humans.The aim of this study was to evaluate the acaricidal activity of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe۲O۳ and Fe۳O۴ NPs) size ۱۵ nm against Hyalomma spp. in vitro. The acaricidal activity of Fe-NPs was evaluated at concentrations of ۵۰, ۱۲۵, and ۲۵۰ µg/ml and controls (distilled water and Cypermethrin) following ۱۰, ۳۰, and ۶۰ min of exposure in triplicate and the experiments were performed two spraying and contact methods. The results of this study showed that all concentrations of Fe-NPs had acaricidal activity, and a concentration of ۲۵۰ µg/ml at an exposure time of ۱۰ min had the highest acaricidal effect (۸۵.۷%). The median lethal concentration (LC۵۰) values were ۵۰ µg/ml in ۶۰ min, and (LC۹۹) values were ۱۵۰ mg/ml in ۳۰ min for Hyalomma spp.. The results showed that the spray method was more effective than the contact method. Statistically, there was no difference between the acaricidal effect of trivalent iron (Fe۲O۳) and quadrivalent (Fe۳O۴) iron nanoparticles. The findings of the present study showed that Fe-NPs had potent acaricidal activity. However, further in vivo studies are required to evaluate the efficacy of this nanoparticle.

Keywords:

Acaricide , Iron nanoparticles , Hyalomma spp , In vitro