In vitro evaluation of Pungan oil against lice and feather mites of commercial layer chickens

In vitro bioassay was carried out to determine the efficacy of pungan oil against lice and mites through filter paper method. The lice and mite samples collected from the infested flocks were used for the in vitro bioassays. The different concentrations of pungan oil with and without surfactant (soap oil) were applied against feather mites, shaft louse and wing louse. Mortality of ectoparasites was observed in time interval of 30 minutes, 6 h and 12 h time intervals. The feather mite and shaft louse were treated with pungan oil at the rate of 2 and 4 ml with and without surfactant caused 100 percent mortality in 12 h time whereas in wing louse, 4 ml of pungan oil with and without surfactant produced 97 and 94 percent mortality in 12 h post application. The lethal concentrations LC50 values of pungan oil with and without surfactant was 2.66, 0.92 and 1.11 ml; 3.08, 0.97 and 1.42 ml for feather mite, shaft and wing louse respectively. The LC99 values for pungan oil with and without surfactant were 11.67, 5.93 and 5.64 ml; 13.11, 8.70 and 6.44 ml for feather mites, shaft and wing louse respectively in 12 h post application. The LC50 and LC99 values of pungan oil for feather mite were found to be higher than for shaft louse and wing louse. The study emphasized the role of the insecticidal potentiality of traditional insecticides like oil of Pongamia pinnata (Pungan) seed and surfactant in potentiating the efficacy of pungan oil on account of lesser LC50 and LC99 values with surfactant against Megninia ginglymura, Menopon gallinae and Lipeurus tropicalis than without surfactant.