Effect of feeding Mucuna pruriens on helminth parasite infestation in lambs.
BACKGROUND
Mucuna pruriens is a tropical legume anecdotally reputed to have anthelmintic properties. This study was conducted to examine the validity of such claims.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine if ingestion of Mucuna seeds reduces helminth parasite infestation in lambs.


METHODS
Thirty-six Dorper x Katahdin ram lambs were assigned to three treatments, a cottonseed meal based control diet, a diet in which Mucuna replaced cottonseed meal and the control diet with levamisole (7.5mg/kg body weight) administration. All diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. The 12 lambs in each treatment were assigned randomly to 4 pens, each containing 3 lambs. Lambs were trickle infected three times per week by gavage with infectious Haemonchus contortus larvae (2000 larvae/lamb) for 3 weeks.


RESULTS
Levamisole treatment decreased fecal egg counts by 87% and abomasal worm counts by 83%. Mucuna intake did not statistically affect fecal egg counts or abomasal worm counts, though numerical (P>0.10) reductions of 7.4% and 18.1%, respectively were evident. Anemia indicators, feed intake, and lamb growth were unaffected by treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Levamisole reduced the Haemonchus parasite burden in lambs significantly but feeding Mucuna reduced the burden by levels unlikely to eliminate the clinical effects of parasitism.
Huisden
C M
CM
Department of Animal Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Adesogan
A T
AT
Gaskin
J M
JM
Courtney
C H
CH
Raji
A M
AM
Kang
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003369:Cottonseed Oil; D004032:Diet; D006188:Haemonchiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006189:Haemonchus / Q000187:drug effects; D007978:Levamisole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031299:Mucuna; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012639:Seeds; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D003369:Cottonseed Oil; D028321:Plant Preparations; D007978:Levamisole