title: Therapeutic and Safety Evaluation of Combined Aqueous Extracts of Azadirachta indica and Khaya senegalensis in Chickens Experimentally Infected with Eimeria Oocysts.
abstract: Coccidiosis is a disease of economic importance in poultry causing morbidity and mortality. Reports show that Azadirachta indica and Khaya senegalensis have been used individually in the treatment of avian coccidiosis. We thus investigated the efficacy and safety of the combined aqueous extracts of these plants for the treatment of experimentally induced coccidiosis in broiler chickens using oocyst count, oxidative stress biomarkers, serum biochemistry, histology, and haematological parameters. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and steroids in both extracts. In addition, alkaloids and flavonoids were present in Azadirachta indica. There was significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent decrease in oocyst count across the treatment groups with 400 mg/kg of the combined extract being the most efficacious dose. Immunomodulatory and erythropoietic activity was observed. There were decreased intestinal lesions and enhanced antioxidant activity across the treatment groups compared to the negative control. Administration of the combined extract did not cause damage to the liver as ALT, AST, and ALP levels were significantly reduced in the uninfected chickens treated with the extracts compared to control suggesting safety at the doses used. The combined aqueous extracts of K. senegalensis stem bark and Azadirachta indica leaves were ameliorative in chickens infected with coccidiosis.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gotep
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Tanko
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Forcados
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Muraina
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozele
authors.affiliation: Virology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Dogonyaro
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Oladipo
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Makoshi
authors.affiliation: Central Diagnostics Laboratory, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Akanbi
authors.affiliation: Haematology Department, Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kinjir
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Maiduguri, Bama Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Onyiche
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, PMB 0248, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Ochigbo
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, PMB 0248, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Aladelokun
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria; Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, PMB 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ozoani
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria; Department of Epidemiology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: V Z
authors.initials: VZ
authors.lastname: Viyoff
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria; Microbiology Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Dapuliga
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Atiku
authors.affiliation: Central Diagnostics Laboratory, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Okewole
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shamaki
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Africa Education Initiative (NEF), 9401 Sentinel Ridge, Eagleville, PA 19403, USA.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Nduaka