Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Sun Flower (Tithonia diversifolia) on the Prevention of Coccidiosis in Broiler Chickens on Natural Infestation

Aims: The use of antibiotics in animal feed has been restricted and banned in many countries due to its effect on health and the resultant resistance against drugs, this pave way for the use of plants phytochemicals as alternatives to synthesized drugs in the treatment of bacterial diseases. Similarly, observation in coccidiosis infection in poultry have attracted concern where resistance development to anticoccidial drug either incooperated into feed or use as therapy. This study focused on the use of sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) extracted with ethanol on the management and treatment of coccidiosis in broiler chickens.

Study Design: Completely Randomised Design was used for the study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Technology, Akure between April 2023 and November 2023.

Methodology: 120 day old chicks were randomly distributed to four (4) treatment for the prophylactic T1 (2g of Tithonia diversifolia extract), T2 (4g of Tithonia diversifolia), T3 (8g of Tithonia diversifolia), T4 (commercial drug) and T5 (no drug no extract) with three (3) replicates per treatment and 8 chicks per replicate. Parameters evaluated include growth performance, organ and carcass weights, presence and treatment of coccidiosis.

Results: The growth performance reveals highest weight gain (p<0.05) at 28 days in T2 (568.30g) and lowest in T1 (617.95g) when compared to the standard T4 (604.20g). T2 (1319.20g) had the highest feed consumed and lowest in T3 (1300.25g). At the end of 56 days, T3 (1966.90g) had the highest weight gain and lowest in T2 (1740g), highest feed consumed was observed in T2 (5498.25g) with T3 (5465.55g) as the lowest of those taking the extract. T1 had the highest thigh weight 161.80g and lowest in T3 with 159.85g (p<0.05), back weight was high at T1 (166.32g) and lowest in T3 (159.62g), wing weight was high at T2 (104.58g) and low in T1 (102.56g) of those taking the extract when compared with the standard. T1 (163.34g) had the highest intestinal weight and lowest in T2 (141.59g), heart weight was high in T1 (7.66g) and low in T3 (5.97g), spleen weight was high in T2 (1.95g) and low in T1 (1.57g). T3 (77850 Oocyst) had the highest oocyst count after the first prophylactic treatment (day 11) with lowest in T2 (7200 Oocyst per gram) of the extract given, Day 25 and 49 reveals an effective reduction of oocyst counts and its maintenance on those that took the extract. It was observed that Tithonia diversifolia work effectively on reducing the multiplication of coccidian Oocyst accumulation which could have resulted into full bloom infection with no significance difference when compared to the standard.

Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of sunflower at 8g/kg has the potential to eradicate coccidiosis in broiler chickens.