Newcastle Disease Outbreak in Backyard Poultry: Herbal Remediation Using Phyllanthus Polygonoides and Carica Papaya Leaves

Abstract

Newcastle disease (ND) is a devastating disease of backyard poultry and causes great economic losses to rural poor. The study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of herbal extracts of Phyllanthus polygonoides and Carica papaya leaves for control of Newcastle outbreak in backyard poultry. A total of 60 representative desi fowl (chicken 50, turkey 7 and duck 3) from 40 flocks were presented to VCC hospital, VC&RI, Orathanadu for treatment. The samples like oropharyngeal fluid/ clocal swab was collected from 40 birds (flocks) and performed haemagglutination test. Out of 40 birds screened, 18 birds (Chicken-13, turkey- 4 and Duck- 1) were positive for haemagglutination test and showed the presence of Newcastle disease virus and confirmed by PCR. The infected birds were treated with aqueous extract of Carica papaya and Phyllanthus polygonoides leaves @ 0.5ml/ kg b.wt orally for 3 days. Most of the birds recovered in single dose, the moderately infected birds recovered after 3 days of treatment. The herbal extract was also used prophylactically other than the infected birds in their respective flocks to prevent the infection. None of the adult birds in their flocks become infected and protected from infection. The plant juice of Phyllanthus polygonoides and Carica papaya leaves were highly effective for control of ND in backyard poultry, it could be used prophylactically every 30 days to prevent Newcastle disease outbreak in backyard poultry to minimize economic losses to the farmers.