In Vivo Efficacy of
Vernonia Amygdalina (Compositae) Against Natural Helminth
Infection in Bunaji (Bos Indicus) Calves
C. B. I. Alawa ab,A. M.Adamu, J. O. Gefub,
O. J. Ajanusic, P. A. Abdud and N. P. Chiezeyb
aDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology,
College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
14853-6401, USA; bNational Animal Production Research
Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika-Zaria, Nigeria; cFaculty
of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria;
dVeterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, Nigeria;
Corresponding Author: ca73@cornell.edu;
c.b.i.alawa@napri-ng.org
Abstract
Fifteen Bunaji calves (Bos
indicus) averaging 105±12.5 Kg liveweight and approximately nine months of age
with natural helminth infection were distributed into three treatment groups of
five animals each. Animals were either treated orally with aqueous extract of
Vernonia amygdalina at a dose
concentration of 1.1g/Kg body weight, a conventional anthelmintic or left
untreated. V. amygdalina
treatment produced 59.5% reduction in eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces which was
significantly different (P<0.001) from the untreated control (-17.24%), whereas
levamisol hydrochloride treatment produced 100% reduction in EPG. A total of six
genera of helminths were recovered from the gastrointestinal tracts and liver of
experimental animals. These were Haemonchus contortus,
Trichostrongylus spp, Bunostomum spp, Oesophagostomum spp,
Fasciola spp and Dicrocoelium spp. There was significant difference
(P<0.001) in worm load between the different treatment groups. Except for
Haemonchus spp, animals in the untreated group had significantly (P<0.001)
higher worm load for all the genera of helminth recovered than those of the
V. amygdalina treated group, indicating that V. amygdalina had no
effect on Haemonchus contortus.