Abstract
Aim of study: To evaluate antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and hepatomodulatory effects of aqueous extracts of Petiveria alliacea L. (Guinea hen weed) root and leaf on growing pullets.Area of study: Abeokuta, Nigeria.Material and methods: Two hundred and eighty eight eight-weeks-old Isa-brown pullets were divided into eight treatments which consisted in birds administered root extracts or leaf extracts at four different concentrations (0, 15, 30 and 45 ɡ/L). Each treatment was replicated three times with 12 pullets per replicate.Main results: Oocyst counts was lower (p<0.05) in pullets administered root extract (78.42 opɡ) compared with leaf extract (103.58 opɡ). Oocyst counts was lower (p<0.05) in pullets administered 30 and 45 ɡ/L root or leaf extract compared with other treatments. Bacteria counts reduced (p<0.05) in pullets administered root extract compared with leaf extract. Pullets administered 45 ɡ/L root extract recorded lowest (p<0.05) bacteria count. Bursa and thymus weights increased in pullets administered root or leaf extract compared with the control. Pullets administered 30 and 45 ɡ/L root or leaf extract had highest (p<0.05) antibody titre against Newcastle disease vaccine 8.80, 8.86, 8.74 and 8.80 (log2) respectively. There was fatty infiltration in liver of control birds, while hepatocytes appeared normal in liver of pullets administered P. alliacea extracts.Research highlights: P. alliacea root and leaf extracts at 45 ɡ/L performed best as antimicrobial, immune-stimulating and hepato-protective agent in pullets. This study highlights P. allicaea as a valuable antimicrobial and immunostimulating agent in poultry production.
Highlights
Commercial layer enterprise is a common subsection within Nigeria poultry industry
Reduction in Eimeria oocyst counts in faeces of pullets administered extracts of P. alliacea root and leaf at various concentrations indicated that the plant is capable of inhibiting Eimeria parasite replication in growing pullets
Sulphur compound found in garlic, which is similar to sulphur compound isolated from P. alliacea (Randle et al, 2018), has been reported to be toxic to a wide range of protozoan parasites (Al-Snaf, 2016)
Summary
Commercial layer enterprise is a common subsection within Nigeria poultry industry. The productive performance of commercial layers to a great extent depends on health management during their growing phase (Olawumi, 2011). Coccidiosis is a crucial and common disease in poultry production (Ola-Fadunsin & Ademola, 2014) It is characterized by invasion of the gut by Eimeria parasites leading to tissues damage, haemorrhage, weight loss and death (Ola-Fadunsin & Ademola, 2014; Eke et al, 2016). Bacterial infections and coccidiosis significantly increase cost of production and causes huge economic loss in poultry industry (Ganguly & Praveen, 2016; Lawal et al, 2016). Overtime, these diseases have been prevented by Adetola M. Sobayo the use of various conventional antibiotic and anticoccidial drugs (Aarestrup & Jenser, 2007; Thangarasu et al, 2016)
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