author(s)
Jenias Ndava, Tichaona Wilbert Mapuwei and Cephas Madoma

abstract
This study sought to assess the effectiveness of using Tephrosia vogelii leaf extract as an acaricide on two tick species Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Amblyomma variegatum which are the most prevalent tick species affecting cattle in Makoni District of Zimbabwe. The number of ticks of each of two species, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Amblyomma variegatum were initially counted on each of the twelve cattle before spraying with alcohol and water-based leaf extracts. The number of ticks remaining on each animal after spraying were counted for five days and percentage mortality determined. There was a significant difference in mortality for R. appendiculatus and A. variegatum (p<0,05) in both alcohol-based leaf extracts and water-based extracts. The study showed that there was higher mortality on A. variegatum than R. appendiculatus for both extracts this study has shown that plant leaf extracts of T. vogelii have significant acaricidal activity against R. appendiculatus and A. variegatum ticks and can thus be considered as alternatives for tick control.