Asian Journal of Research in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 1(3): 1-9, 2018; Article no.AJRAVS.41607 Therapeutic Evaluation of Terminalia macroptera (Guill. & Perr.) Stembark Extract in Experimental Avian Coccidiosis M. H. Garba1*, G. Yusuf2, A. O. Abdul-Majeed1, M. L. Sherifat3, L. J. Bulus1, J. Ajayi2 and L. M. Hafsa4 1Department of Animal Production Technology, Federal College of Wildlife Management, P.M.B. 268, Niger State, Nigeria. 2Department of Biological Sciences, Federal College of Education, P.M.B.39, Kontagora, Niger State, Nigeria. 3Chemistry Unit, Department of Basic Sciences, Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, P.M.B. 1500, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria. 4Laboratory Science Unit, Department of Basic Sciences, Federal College of Wildlife Management, P.M.B. 268, Niger State, Nigeria. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Authors MHG and LMH designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors LJB, MLS and GY managed the analyses of the study. Authors JA and GY managed the literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/AJRAVS/2018/41607 Editor(s): (1) Jean Beguinot, Department of Biogeosciences, University of Burgundy, France. Reviewers: (1) Noriah Bidin, University of Technology, Malaysia. (2) Gokben Ozbey, Firat University, Turkey. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history/24907 Received 11th March 2018 Accepted 24th May 2018 Original Research Article Published 1st June 2018 ABSTRACT Seventy per cent (70% ) of Terminalia macroptera stem bark, methanol extract was administered to four groups A,B,C and D of a day old broiler chickens with each group consisting of five(5) chicks. Different doses of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kgbw corresponding to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 ml of the dissolved extract were administered to the respective groups. Groups E, F and G were the other _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; Garba et al.; AJRAVS, 1(3): 1-9, 2018; Article no.AJRAVS.41607 groups that were infected but not treated (Negative control), infected and treated with the Standard drug (TolacoxR) and Treated but not infected respectively. There was a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in the Oocyst count (x103) between the infected and treated with the extract compared to the negative control. While the negative control was observed to manifest watery and bloody stool, high lesion score and high faecal count, the trend seemed to be reversed by the administration of the various doses of the extract on daily basis for 28 consecutive days. The faecal count in the treated groups was found to fall down to 2.1, 4.0, 1.7 and 0.7 x 103/g in the 50, 100,150 and 200mg/kgbw doses administered respectively, when compared to the 36.9 x 10 3/g obtained in the negative control. Also, the efficacy of the extract was observed to be dose dependent, as the dose of 200mg/kgbw was found to reduce the faecal count in the infected group to 0.7 as compared to the 0.8 x 10 3/g in the standard drug. Keywords: Coccidiosis; Emeria spp; Oocysts; Terminalia macroptera; Phyto-medicine. 1. INTRODUCTION al. [10,11] reported on the use of attenuated vaccines (with reduced pathogenicity), but Avian coccidiosis is a complex intestinal disease unfortunately observed that these are expensive caused by obligatory protozoan parasites to produce and hence increase the cost of belonging to genus Eimeria. It is a disease that production. The observed shortcomings, wreaks havoc even in the developed countries of therefore, prompted the search for cost-effective the world [1]. One recent estimate put it that, alternative strategies for more effective and safer coccidiosis may cost the US chicken industry control of avian coccidiosis. about $127 million and 1.4 billion Indian Rupees annually [2,3,4] and proportionally similar losses The use of botanicals over the years has played may occur in other parts of the world. What can a major role in the control of avian coccidiosis, as be deduced from this estimate is the fact that, if they are not only natural products but may such an enormous loss could be incurred in comprise new therapeutic molecules to which countries like the United State of America (USA), resistance has not yet developed [3]. The use of how much fatal and uneconomical could it be in botanicals as anticoccidial remedies, therefore, the Asian and Sub Saharan Africa where holds promise as an alternative in the control of sophistication in the health management coccidiosis. This fact is well documented in the practices is at the infant stage. Thus coccidiosis inventory of medicinal plants, listing over 20,000 is probably the most expensive and widespread species. In spite of the overwhelming influences infectious disease in commercial poultry systems and our dependence on modern medicine and that have got to be arrested if substantial tremendous advances in synthetic drugs, a large progress is to be made in ensuring enough segment of the world population still like drugs protein supply, particularly in the developing from plants. In many of the developing countries, countries of Sub Saharan Africa and Asia. The the use of plant drugs is increasing because emergence of drug resistance has again modern life-saving drugs are beyond the reach of unfortunately complicated the success thus far three-quarters of the third world’s population recorded with the chemoprophylaxis and although many such countries spend 40-50% of anticoccidial feed additives in the control of this their total wealth on drugs and health care. As a disease [5,6] and their potentially toxic effects on part of the strategy to reduce the financial burden the animal health [7]. Another drawback inherent on developing countries, it is obvious that an in the sustained use of drugs or antibiotic is the increased use of plant drugs will be followed bio-accumulation of the residues in poultry presently and in the future [3]. products which may be potentially hazardous to consumers [8]. As observed by Ane et al. [9], Terminalia macroptera Guill. & Perr. vaccination of birds with live Eimeria oocysts, (Combretaceae) is a tree which grows in has been another approach for coccidiosis Western Africa from Senegal to Cameroon, and control but, in cases of poor management, occasionally as far as Sudan. The tree is mostly severe reactions that in most cases affect the found in Guinean and Sudanese-Guinean performance of flocks, mainly in broilers because savannahs, preferably in moist areas and clayey of their rearing period has been found to be ground, where it is stated to be common [12,13]. triggered by these attenuated organisms. As a Terminalia spp. range from small and medium- result of this drawback of live vaccines, Abbas et sized shrubs or trees to large deciduous forest 2 Garba et al.; AJRAVS, 1(3): 1-9, 2018; Article no.AJRAVS.41607 trees, ranging in height from 1.5 to 75 m tall Popo, Kere, Lubararu and Dogongari in Borgu [14,15]. Traditionally, the plant has been used in Local Government Area of Niger state, Nigeria, combination with Anogeissus leiocarpa for with the main aim of ascertaining from the local colouring cotton fabric yellow or ochre. This is people (particularly the elderly ones), the plant then used for treatment of newly circumcised species(s) commonly utilised in the traditional children due to its putative antimicrobial effect management of coccidiosis. Part(s) used the [16]. The roots of the plant are regarded as an method of preparation and period of harvest efficient antimicrobial remedy and are sold in were also enquired from the interviewees. markets in Guinea-Bissau [17]. In Burkina Faso, the plant is employed against malaria [18]. The 2.4 Plant Preparation bark is used against diarrhoea and dysentery in Nigeria [12]. A decoction of the leaves is used The stem bark of the plant (Terminalia against hepatitis, ringworm and skin diseases macroptera) was washed with clean water and [18]. The leaves are also used in gastritis, colic dried at room temperature and then chopped into and hypertension, against fever, leprosy and smaller fragments and pulverised using a tuberculosis [13]. The timber of T. macroptera is grinder. Cold extraction was performed using 70% methanol. regarded as strong and resistant, and is popular as building material and in furniture [19]. 2.5 Drugs Chemical investigations of T. macroptera has led Toultrazuril was purchased from State Veterinary to the identification of flavonoids triterpenoids , Clinic, Bosso, Minna as oral solution (2.5%) ellagitannins and related phenolics [20,21,17,22]. under trade name TolacoxR. This research work therefore set to evaluate the 2.6 Pharmacological Studies efficacy or otherwise of the methanolic extract of Terminalia macroptera against induced 2.6.1 Anticoccidial effect coccidiosis in broiler chickens with a view to come up with a coccidiocidal/static phyto Total number of 35 chickens were grouped into component that is locally available, affordable seven (7), each group consisting of 5 chickens and accessible to the farmers, as opposed to the as thus: often inaccessible and unaffordable synthetic Group I = 50 mg/kgbw drugs against this menace that hinders flock Group II= 100 mg/kgbw growth and expansion. Group III= 150 mg/kgbw Group IV= 200 mg/kgbw 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS Group V= infected and not treated (negative control) 2.1 Experimental Site Group VI= not infected and not treated (Normal control) The studies/research work was conducted at the Group VII= treated with the standard drug teaching and research Farm of the Federal College of Wildlife Management, New-Bussa, 2.7 Infection of Animals Niger state.