Evaluation of the Acaricidal Effect of Plant-Derived Polysaccharide Nanoemulsions Against Livestock Ticks and Their Role in Controlling Tick-Borne Diseases

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) represent obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites serving as primary vectors for a wide range of viral, bacterial, rickettsial, and protozoan pathogens affecting both humans and livestock. The global economic impact of tick infestations, coupled with the emergence of acaricide-resistant tick populations, environmental contamination, and chemical residues in animal products, has necessitated the search for safer and more sustainable alternatives. Nanotechnology, particularly through nanoemulsion formulations, has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the bioavailability, stability, and efficacy of plant-derived bioactive compounds while reducing their toxicity. This narrative review comprehensively evaluates the acaricidal potential of plant-derived polysaccharide nanoemulsions against livestock ticks and their role in controlling tick-borne diseases. The pioneering study by Abdel-Radi and colleagues (۲۰۲۵) demonstrated that Astragalus polysaccharide nanoemulsion (APS-NE), with uniform particle sizes of ۳۰–۵۳ nm and high water solubility, achieved ۱۰۰% mortality against eggs, larvae, nymphs, and unfed adults of Hyalomma dromedarii at ۲% concentration, while significantly inhibiting reproductive parameters including oviposition index, egg mass, and hatchability. The nanoemulsion exhibited very low mammalian toxicity with a wide safety margin. Additional plant-based nanoformulations, including tea tree, lemon, thyme, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and neem oil nanoemulsions, have demonstrated potent acaricidal and repellent activities against economically important tick species including Rhipicephalus annulatus, R. sanguineus, and R. microplus, with particle sizes ranging from ۵۵ to ۱۱۲ nm and low cytotoxicity (cell viability >۸۰%). Mechanisms of action include cuticular penetration and membrane disruption, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, reproductive inhibition, and repellency. Despite challenges including production scalability, formulation stability under field conditions, and the need for large-scale clinical trials, plant-derived polysaccharide nanoemulsions represent a promising, environmentally compatible component of integrated tick management programs within the One Health framework.

کلیدواژه ها:

Nanoemulsion ، Tick Control ، Polysaccharides ، Livestock ، Tick-Borne Diseases