In vitro evaluation of Nerium oleander leaf extract against Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi mite isolated from naturally infested rabbits

Infestation of the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi is one of the most frequent skin diseases in rabbits all over the world. Disease is characterized by intense pruritus, alopecia, erythema, scales and crusts around the head, neck, trunk, feet, ears, nose and genitals, resulting in hypertensive reactions, considerable losses in body weight and productivity causing significant economic losses in rabbit production.

This study is aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Nerium oleander extract against S. scabiei var. cuniculi mite in vitro. Acaricidal bioassay, a dipping method was conducted on mites isolated from naturally infested rabbits. PBS and ivermectin were used as the negative and positive controls, respectively. In addition, three different concentrations of extract (100, 200 and 400 μg/ml) weretested at different periods and changes over time in the viability of mites were registered for (0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 hours). A chemical assay was performed via GC-MS to investigate the presence of several anticipated active chemical compounds in Nerium oleander leaf extract.

The results showed that the extract had high efficacy in killing mites at 100%, 78% and 49% and ivermectin 91%, respectively, for 8 hours. The results indicate that Nerium oleander possesses effective compounds as a valuable therapeutic method for treating scabies. Further studies are needed to determine the precise active chemicals present in Nerium oleander leaf extract and their modes of action and application in vivo.