Olive oil and linoleic acid as potential acaricidal agents against Psoroptes cuniculi mites

Psoroptes cuniculi mite is an important ectoparasite in rabbit breeding. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a vegetable oil with anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties, and linoleic acid (LA) also has beneficial properties for health. The activity against P. cuniculi mites of EVOO was evaluated at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 30, 60 and 100 %; LA was evaluated at 50, 100, 150, 200, 300 and 400 mg/mL. The effectiveness was evaluated by the immersion technique using 11 mites and four replicates, and post-treatment mortality was analyzed after 24 and 48 h. Also, the composition of EVOO was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; seven compounds were identified, with the major compounds being: 1) oleic acid (47.4 %), 2) glycidol oleate (34.2 %), 3) linoleic acid (7.0 %). Pure EVOO caused a mortality of 74.4 % after 24 h and 100 % after 48 h of treatment. LA caused 94.6 % and 98.4 % of mortality at 24 and 48 h, respectively, at a concentration of 400 mg/mL. Based on the results of the current investigation, EVOO and LA are proposed as potential effective treatments for the control of P. cuniculi mites.