PROPHYLACTIC AND THERAPEUTIC STUDIES ON ETHANOLIC ROOT EXTRACT OF ASPARAGUS AFRICANUS AGAINST EIMERIA INFECTION IN BROILER CHICKS

Abstract

Poultry birds are commonly infected with Eimeria species, which causes economic losses in poultry farms. This study evaluated the in-vivo anti-coccidial activity of ethanolic root extract of Asparagus africanus in broiler chicks infected with Eimeria species. Phytochemical constituents and acute toxicity of the extract were determined. Prophylactic and therapeutic studies were carried out. In the prophylactic study, three groups of chicks were infected with about 250 Eimeria oocysts each and were orally-treated 2hr later with extract doses of 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg, and 2000mg/kg respectively. Amprolium was used for positive control group, but one group was left untreated as negative control. In the therapeutic study, three groups of experimentally-infected broilers that had developed symptoms of coccidiosis were once daily for 5 days orally administered with 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 2000mg/kg of the extract respectively. A positive control group was treated with Amprolium, while the negative control group was left untreated. Efficacy of the extract against Emeria was evaluated by severity of bloody-diarrhoea and number of oocysts/g of faeces. The ethanolic root extract contained various phytochemicals, which was safe at a high dose of 4000mg/kg. Bloody-diarrhoea was milder in both Amprolium-treated and extract-treated groups. Mean of oocysts/g of faeces in the untreated group (P<0.0) was significantly higher (4841 oocysts/g of faeces) compared to Amprolium-treated (1604 oocysts/g of faeces) and various extract-treated groups. The findings of this study suggest that root extract of Asparagus africanus has anti-coccidial activity, and can serve as an alternative means for controlling avian coccidiosis caused by Emeria species.