Abstract

Coccidiosis is a disease transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food or water with sporulated Eimeria oocysts. Bloody diarrhoea is the primary symptom. Farm poultry production systems are recently challenged with the concept of "clean, green, ethical" which promotes limited use of drugs, chemicals and hormones for poultry welfare. Substituting synthetic drugs with plant-based supplements such as Vernonia amygdalina and Aloe vera could ensure healthier food for humans. This study aimed at evaluating the use of these plant extracts in controlling chicken coccidiosis. Chicks were infected by inoculating oocysts in their water. Four chicks were placed in 24 separate cages, infection confirmed by observing for blood in faeces, followed by stool microscopy. Plant extracts were gotten by decoction and maceration extraction methods and administered at different concentrations (100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/L) to treat coccidiosis in 66 infected chicks. Chicks were weighed to check for weight gain and feed conversion ratio and growth performance. Different periods (4-9 days) were used to observe the effect of the extracts. Blood was collected from the chicks two weeks after inoculation of oocysts to determine whether these extracts could be beneficial to some haematological parameters. Concentration of 200 mg/L was the most effective dosage followed by 400 mg/L. The extracts showed some significant effects on the growth performance and on haematological parameters (Hb and platelets). Conclusively, A. vera and V. amygdalina are not only beneficial for improvement of chicken growth but also show some effects on haematological parameters and seem to be a good natural alternative for treatment of coccidiosis in chicken.

Key words: Aloe vera, Vernonia amygdalina, plant extract, coccidiocidal, chicken.