Anacardium occidentale (LINN) Stem Bark Extracts: Effects on Poultry Colibacillosis Disease

Abstract

The challenges posed by microbes in poultry industries and the continued search for natural means of combating them inspired this study. The effect of the stem bark extracts of Anacardium occidentale on avian colibacillosis was investigated. Ethanol and aqueous extracts of the stem bark of A. occidentale were prepared using standard methods. In vitro antimicrobial activities of the extracts were evaluated against E. coli. Nine groups of 10 broilers (day old chicks; 48 g – 50 g) each were created and bred for a period of eight weeks. Groups 1 to 3 served as the control, while group 4 to 9 served as the test groups. Meat quality, biochemical and haematological assessments were done using standard methods. The maximum zone of inhibition observed was 13.0±0.4 mm at 100 % concentration of the ethanol extract. Both extracts were observed to have a bactericidal / bacteriostatic ratio of 2. The extracts improved the meat quality, blood protein, liver enzymes and renal functions of the broilers compared to the negative control. Again, packed cell volume, haemoglobin and red blood cell counts were increased by the extracts compared to the negative control. On the whole, the results obtained for the extracts were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from that of the commercial antibiotics (positive control) results. Therefore, we can infer that crude extracts of A. occidentale could be used against Colibacillosis disease in place of the conventional commercial antibiotics.

Hepatoprotective and cardioprotective effect of Artemisia nilagirica leaf extract on E. coli challenged broiler chicken

“…The clinical signs of colibacillosis in ANE supplemented groups were of mild to moderate intensity at different time intervals, appeared later and persisted only for shorter period as compared to infected group alone, where more severe clinical signs were present. The severity of clinical signs increased with progression of the disease as noticed by various researchers in previous investigations [ 14 , 31 ]. The occurrence of clinical signs may be associated with toxaemia produced by the microorganism once enters to the circulation.…”

“…Plant extracts prepared by using different solvents are new alternatives to antibiotics and may act as prophylactic agent [ 11 ]. The antibacterial properties of various plant extracts have already been reported by researchers [ [12] , [13] , [14] ].…”