Exposure of Melia azedarach fruits to Eimeria lowers oocyst output in yearling Tswana goats
2008
Madibela, O.R. | Kelemogile, K.M.
This study assessed the effects of Melia azedarach fruits on oocyst output of goats naturally infected with Eimeria species. The nineteen 12-month-old male Tswana goats weighing 21.5 kg were allocated to either a grass hay basal diets (control = 10) or to grass hay basal diet + M. azedarach fruits (treatment = 9). The animals were individually penned, given feed and clean water for 21 days. There was a significant (P < 0.001) difference in oocyst per gram (OPG) between the two groups in weeks 2 and 3. M. azedarach maintained an oocyst count of 6400 OPG throughout the study. In contrast, OPG of the control animals increased in the second week, reaching a peak of 33,000 OPG by week 3. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in body weight between the groups by week 2. The use of novel plants to control parasites in livestock opens opportunities for sustainable and less frequent use of anthelmintics.
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