Towards plant-based control of Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus microplus ticks: Knowledge, perceptions, and practices of ruminant livestock farmers in Guadeloupean islands

Ticks are the main external parasites of ruminants in tropical regions. Combined with growing resistance to chemical control methods, they represent a major threat to livestock farming in the Caribbean region. A participatory survey was carried out among 81 livestock farmers from 93 different livestock locations in Guadeloupe islands to inventory practices used for tick control, and to assess perceptions and acceptability of plant-based treatments. The study showed that more than 75 % of livestock farmers had a good knowledge of the tick species present and of the plants that can be used to control them (37 %: plants, recipes, and practices cited). Plant-based tick control is used by 26.5 % of the livestock farmers. The survey identified 22 plants from 17 botanical families used to treat tick infestation. However, tick control relies mainly on the use of chemicals (52.4 %), and the lack of knowledge about how to use the plants prevents optimal use. Despite the predominant use of chemicals, livestock farmers are open to use more plant-based treatments against ticks.