Effects of Moringa Oleifera Seed Supplemented Diets on Eimeria tenella Infected Broiler Birds

Abstract

Coccidiosis is an important disease affecting poultry industry worldwide. Infection is caused by different Eimeria species leading to mortality and economic losses. Increasing drug-resistance, toxicity of most anticoccidial, tight government regulations on the use of anticoccidial drugs coupled with non-acceptability of anticoccidial medication in most commercial poultry production have prompted the quest for alternate therapy. This study was carried out to determine the aqueous seed extracts (AE) and ethanolic seed extracts (EE) of Moringa oleifera on Eimeria tenella infected chicks. Seventy (70) day-old broiler chicks were purchased from a local poultry dealer in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The chicks were randomly divided into seven groups of ten birds each after seventeen days of brooding. Birds in Group 1 formed the uninfected control group while birds in Groups 2 to 7 were separately infected orally with 2×104 sporulated oocyst of E. tenella on day 18 and their feeds treated as follows: Group 2: Vital feed with no supplement; Group 3: Vital feed + 0.6g/kg Amprolium; Group 4: Vital feed + 1g/kg AE, Group 5: Vital feed + 2g/kg AE; Group 6: Vital feed + 1g/kg EE, and Group 7: Vital feed + 2g/kg EE. Anticoccidial effects of moringa seed was conducted on the basis of oocyst output per gram of faeces, mortality rate, caecal lesion score, feed intake and live weight gain. Phytochemical screening of M. oleifera seeds showed the presence of alkaloid, glycoside, flavones, saponins, tannins, terpeniods and phenolic compounds. Although both AE and EE exhibited some level of anticoccidial efficacy when compared with infected and untreated control birds, the efficacy of amprolium was significantly better than both extracts (P < 0.05). It is concluded that both AE and EE of M. oleifera could serve as safe and cheaper alternative to amprolium especially in rural areas where synthetic drugs are lacking or in farms practicing organic poultry farming.