Direct effects of Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) acetone leaf extract on broiler chickens naturally infected with Eimeria species
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Date
2013-02-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Science +Business Media Dordrecht
Abstract
Avian coccidiosis is one of the most important
diseases of poultry and it is responsible for a large number
of all broiler mortalities worldwide. The control of this
disease relies mainly on the use of anticoccidial drugs.
However, herbal preparations could be an alternative for
the treatment against coccidiosis in chickens. The direct
effects of Moringa oleifera acetone extracts on broiler
chickens naturally infected with mixed Eimeria species
was investigated to determine the relative efficacy of the
extracts against coccidiosis in birds. The investigations were
carried out in seven groups (ten chickens per group). The
birds were given various doses (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and
5.0 g/kg body weight) of acetone extract of leaves of M.
toltrazuril® (positive control) and untreated (negative control).
The extract was evaluated for anticoccidial activity by
means of inhibition of oocyst output in faeces, faecal score,
weight gain and mortality. Haematological indices were
evaluated by standard methods. The group treated with
1.0 g/ kg body weight Moringa oleifera extract produced
the least inhibitory effect on oocyst shed in the faeces
(96.4 %), while the groups treated with 2.0 g/kg, 3.0 g/kg,
4.0 g/kg and 5.0 g/kg body weight of the extract produced
97.4, 98.7, 99.1 and 99.8 %, respectively. Body weight
gains of infected chickens treated with the extract significantly
improved (p<0.05), and faecal scores were milder.
Packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red
blood count of the treated birds were significantly (p<0.05)
higher than those of the infected untreated group. Moringa
oleifera leaves could find application in the treatment of avian
coccidiosis in veterinary practice.
Description
Keywords
Anticoccidial, Avian, Eimeria species, Moringa oleifera, Oocyst
Citation
Ola-Fadunsin, S.D. and Ademola, I.O. (2013). Direct effects of Moringa oleifera acetone extracts on broiler chickens naturally infected with Eimeria species. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 45(3): 1423-1428. DOI 10.1007/s11250-013-0380-9