The Effect of Bitter Leaf (Vernonia amagdalina) Extracts on the Performance and Blood Profile of Broiler Chicken Infected with Eimeria sp.

Abstract

In order to improve poultry production and reduce losses due to outbreaks and the occurrence of disease, the use of antibiotics and anti-coccidian has been on the increase, with their residual effect (REF). The study investigated the effect of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) extract on the production performance and haematological parameters of broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria sp. A complete randomised design was used for this experiment to avoid bias and ensure equal treatments.  About 150 broiler chickens were distributed in 5 treatments groups, T1 was the control and was given water only, T2 was given 1.5 ml/L of antibiotics, T3, T4, T5, were given 10, 15 and 20ml of the bitter leaf extract (V. amygdalina) per liter of water, respectively for three (3) days. Blood samples (2ml) were collected from the wing venipuncture from two chickens in each replicate using syringes and needles and were put in labeled tubes without anticoagulants and were taken to the Animal Production Medical laboratory of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger state, Nigeria for analysis. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social 2023 (SPSS version 23). Differences in mean body weight were tested by one-way ANOVA at (P˂0.05). Mean separation was done using the Duncan multiple range test. Oocyst clearance showed that there was a decrease in the number of oocysts in the faeces of all the groups treated with the extract (V. amygdalina). Performance characteristics showed that there were significant differences in terms of their feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. 10 ml of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) extract had sporulation inhibition of 62% at 72 hours, 15 ml had 76%, and 20 ml had the highest (82%), respectively. The total protein (TP) of the treatments showed a significant difference (P˂0.05) between T2 when compared to the rest treatments, with samples T3 and T5 having the lowest values of 5.40 and 5.65g/dl, respectively. The result of this study showed that the Bitter Leaf (V. amagdaline) Extract (BLE) contain higher concentrations of antioxidants such as flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, triterpene and coumarins. Conclusively, 20ml of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) extract, extracted with ethanol, proved effective in the treatment of broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria sp.