Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Do you have any experience working with Euphorbia sominalensis sap?
QUESTION:
I will soon be going to Somaliland to begin trials on ethnoveterinary
medicines which have been reported by various authors as being used.
The research will initially focus on parasites of sheep and goats and mange
in camels. It is on sarcoptes mange in camels that I kindly request any
feedback.The intention is to use the widely reported, but rather irritant
Euphorbia sominalensis sap,and compare it to the effects of Ivermectin
and a negative control. If anyone has any experience of working with this
plant I would be most interested to hear from them; similarly any
information the treatment of camel mange in that region of Africa would be most
welcome.
ANSWER:
I have experience with neither, but I hope you are taking steps to protect
the herders applying this stuff to the camels. It can be nasty if it is
like some of the Euphorbia species i saw in Kenya and we have planted
around the US. Perhaps you would like to add a positive control, too, maybe
kerosene (parafin? A little too nasty, but it has been used...no smoking)
or some less toxic cheap locally available irritating insecticide.