Abstract
Birds, like other animals, are exposed to parasites, which can cause symptoms that sometimes lead to their death.
Twenty-five 10-day-old local chicks (Gallus dominos) were collected from local markets in Hillah for laboratory experiments on external parasites. Five adult birds of the same species, infected with external parasites, were collected for experimental infestation of the chicks with mites.
Filter papers were placed in small Petri dishes, then the filter paper was sprayed with essential oil extract lavender (Lavandula spp.) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) at concentrations of (5000, 2500, 1250, 625 μL) for each plant separately, at a rate of 3 ml per dish. After that, ten live parasites were placed in each dish. The dishes were covered to saturate the medium with steam to determine the effect of the essential oil on the parasites. The parasites were monitored every five minutes until all parasites were killed, and the times and the difference between them were recorded during the treatment of the parasites. After that, the experiment was repeated using the essential oil with the Petri dish covers removed.the effect of the essential oil extract of Cymbopogon citratus and lavender plant in uncovered Petri dishes. Concentrations of 625 μL and 1250 μL killed the mites after an 90 minute by 100%, and at concentrations of 2500 killed after an 75 minute by 100%. Concentrations of 5000 μL killed after only 60 minute.
As for the essential oil extract of lavender plant in uncovered Petri dishes, the mortality rate was determined at a concentration of 625 μL after an 90 minute from the start of the experiment. Concentrations of 1250 μL and 2500 μL resulted in a 100% mortality rate after only an 90 minute from the start of the experiment in the laboratory. Concentrations of 5000 μL resulted in a 100% mortality rate after an 75 minute from the start of the experiment. We conclude from this experiment that the essential oil of lemongrass without a cover in Petri dishes at a concentration of 5000 μL was the best result among the other concentrations.When treating the mites with the essential oil extract of Cymbopogon citratus and the conditions of the experiment were to place the cover of the Petri dishes, we noticed that the concentration of 625 μL needed an 60 minute to kill all the parasites by a percentage of mortality 100%after the beginning of the experiment, and at a time of 45 minutes, the mortality rate was observed to be 100% at a concentration of 1250 μL and 2500 μL, and when using the essential oil extract of lemongrass at a concentration of 5000 μL, the mortality rate was 100% at a time of 30 minutes from the beginning of the experiment , Regarding the second experiment, which involved using a lavender essential oil extract with a cover on the Petri dishes, when treated with a lavender oil extract at a concentration of 625 μL, 100% mortality occurred after an 75 minute after the start of the experiment. When treated with a concentration of 1250 μL and 2500 μL lavender oil extracts, mortality occurred after an 60 minute after the start of the experiment. The highest concentration 5000 μL of lavender oil extracts resulted in 100% mortality after 45 minutes. we conclude that Cymbopogon citratus was the best extract plants, killing in the shortest time at a concentration of 5000, better than lavender, compared to the control group, where natural mortality occurred after 60 minutes.
We concluded from our experience that the essential oil extract of lemongrass and lavender worked to kill the red mite, and the higher the concentration of the extract, the less time it took to kill the red mite.