Performance of Broiler Chickens Induced With Field Isolates of Eimeria Tenella, Treated With Methanolic Leaf Extract and Leaf Powder of Adansonia Digitata

Abstract

Coccidiosis poses a serious threat to the poultry industry globally due to the great economic losses. The development of resistance strains to the available synthetic drugs is another major issue. Consequently, a study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of methanolic leaf extract and leaf powder of Adansonia digitata (baobab tree or monkey- bread tree), in feed to treat coccidiosis. In treated groups oocysts output reduced from + 10 per microscopic field (mf) to + 1 but remained high (+ 10) in control group. Feed consumption, weigh gain, feed conversion ratio, Packed cell volume, serum total protein and red blood cell were significantly (P < 0.05) high in treated groups but low in the untreated group from infection (from 24 day old) to end of observation (56 day old). However, the value of WBC (2.28×1012/l) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in negative group than treated groups from infection (24 day old) to the end (56 day old) of the experiment. Ballooned caeca, haemorrhagic intestinal mucosa, thickened intestinal wall, blood clots in the intestinal lumen and pin point haemorrhages in the intestine of the untreated group were observed. No gross lesions were noticeable in treated groups except the group treated with leaf powder, which revealed thickening of intestinal wall. Methanolic leaf extract and powder of the plant proved effective against broiler coccidiosis and can enhance performance.