Study of the acaricidal effect of São Caetano melon (Momordica charantia) against Psoroptes ovis and Sarcoptes scabiei

Abstract

Dermatological disorders are responsable for most of the veterinary care performed on rabbits (WHITE et al., 2002). Psoroptes ovis are obligatory ectoparasites, the infestation by such parasite is called psoroptic mange. Sarcoptic mange is a highly transmissible zoonosis, caused by the mite of the genus Sarcoptes scabiei. The objective was to evaluate the acaricidal efficacy of the ointment based on Melon of São Caetano (Momordica charantia). The rabbits were treated during a period of 21 days with daily application of the medicaments and were followed up by the parasitological exam of the skin on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 where it was found 100% of cure with the obtaining of negativity in the skin scrapings of several parts of the animals from both groups, none of them presented any type of hypersensitivity reaction. It was concluded that this melon has acaricidal activity and may be a possible treatment.