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Effect of Essential Oil-based Teat Spray for Improvement of Teat Health in Dairy Cows

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This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of essential oil–based teat spray formulations in improving teat skin and teat end condition in dairy cows affected with subclinical mastitis. The experiment was conducted for 90 days at Gorakshan Sabha, Dhantoli, Nagpur. A total of 71 mid-lactating cows were screened using the Modified California Mastitis Test (MCMT), and 24 cows positive for subclinical mastitis were selected. These animals were randomly assigned to three groups (T1, T2, and T3; n = 8 each). Group T1 received a 2% essential oil–based teat dip, T2 received a 2% essential oil–based teat spray, and T3 received a 1% essential oil–based teat spray post-milking. The formulation comprised eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, and tea tree essential oils. The results revealed that the teat skin score (TSS) and teat end score (TES) improved in all groups over the 90-day period, with no significant differences (P<0.05) among treatments. By day 90, TSS values improved to 1.125 ± 0.125 (T1), 1.125 ± 0.18 (T2), and 1.250 ± 0.16 (T3). TES values improved to 1.375 ± 0.18 (T1), 1.125 ± 0.125 (T2), and 1.5 ± 0.1 (T3), with the best improvement observed in T2.

Adulticidal Activities and Synergistic Effects of Citrus Aurantiifolia Peels and Hyptis spicigera Leaves Essential Oils against Anopheles gambiae s.l. (Diptera: Culicidae)

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Research on new plant-based insecticides meets the need for an alternative to address mosquito resistance to synthetic insecticides. This study assessed the adulticidal activity and synergistic effects of essential oils (EOs) from Citrus aurantiifolia peels and Hyptis spicigera leaves on female adults of Anopheles gambiae s.l. The extraction yields were on the order of 0.17 and 0.11%, respectively, for C. aurantiifolia and H. Spicigera EOs obtained by hydrodistillation. The phytochemical composition of the EOs was analysed by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).  GC-MS revealed that the essential oils of C. aurantiifolia and H. spicigera contained high amounts of monoterpene compounds (100% and 77.45%, respectively). Adulticidal activity was assessed using WHO and CDC bottle bioassays at concentrations of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mg/ml/btl. The EOs of both plants caused significant concentration-dependent Knock down and adulticidal activities. Individually, H. spicigera EOs had more adulticidal effects (LC50 = 4.42 mg/ml/btl) than did C. aurantiifolia EOs (LC50 = 6.79 mg/ml/btl). An EO mixture 25%Ca + 75%Hs from C. aurantiifolia and H. spicigera had synergistic effects (CI = 142.84; SF = 1.42) on female Anopheles gambiae adults. Combinations of the two plant EOs considerably optimize their insecticidal effectiveness.