PLANT-BASED ANTHELMINTICS AS DEWORMER OF ZAMPEN NATIVE CHICKEN (Gallus domesticus

Aron Louie L. Paler^* and Emelyn D. Tormes ^*Correspondence: Aron Louie L. Paler, School of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Studies, J.H. Cerilles State College, Mati, San Mi, Philippines, Email:

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Introduction

In the Philippines, native chickens are important agricultural assets in rural households because they provide meat, eggs, and supplementary income and can be raised under low-input conditions. Dusaran and Pabulayan (2012) reported that native chicken production remains largely a backyard family enterprise and an important source of food and livelihood for Filipino farmers [1].

The ZamPen native chicken was developed from the Joloano strain in the Zamboanga Peninsula and is valued for its adaptability and suitability for free-range production. However, outdoor access increases contact with infective parasite stages in soil and intermediate hosts. Published studies have documented gastrointestinal parasite infections and associated intestinal changes in chickens under production conditions [2,3].

Free-range native chickens scavenge for food and may ingest infective stages of endoparasites. These parasites compete with birds for nutrients and may contribute to stress, reduced appetite, anemia, impaired productivity, and mortality. Poultry gastrointestinal helminths include nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes, with infection patterns affected by management and exposure conditions [4]. Although synthetic anthelmintics are available, plant-derived alternatives continue to be investigated because of concerns about resistance, residues, and accessibility. Experimental studies have demonstrated anthelmintic activity in several medicinal plants [5].

Anthelmintics are substances used to treat or prevent infections caused by parasitic worms. Increasing concern about drug resistance, residues, side effects, and environmental impact has encouraged the evaluation of plant-based alternatives. Ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala), papaya (Carica papaya), and betel nut (Areca catechu) have been investigated as natural dewormers. Leucaena leucocephala extract and its active compound mimosine have demonstrated anthelmintic activity [6]. The anthelmintic activity of papaya seed extracts has been attributed principally to benzyl isothiocyanate and papaya seed supplementation has reduced gastrointestinal parasite burdens in pullets [7,8]. Betel nut preparations have also shown activity against Ascaridia galli and other helminths [2,9,10]. Philippine studies further reported that combinations of ipil-ipil, betel nut, and papaya seeds reduced parasite egg counts in native chickens [11-14].

The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of papaya seeds (Carica papaya), ipil-ipil seeds (Leucaena leucocephala) and betel nut (Areca catechu) as natural dewormer to ZamPen Native Chicken.

Methodology

Place and duration of the study

The study was conducted at Purok 2, Mati, San Miguel Zamboanga del Sur. The duration of the study was from December 2022 to April 2023 for a period of 5 months.

Facilities and equipments

The study utilized the following equipment: brooding cages, rearing pens, electric bulbs, digital weighing scales, plastic waterers and feeding troughs, electronic microscope, volumetric flask, beaker, pasteur pipette, graduated cylinder, glass funnel, petri dish, forceps, cheesecloth, hot plate, analytical balance, mcmaster slides and empty gelatin capsules, blender and manual grinder, record books and ball pens.

Construction of poultry house

The free-range poultry house was built and customized purposely for the study to accommodate the dimension and orientation of the cages. The free-range poultry house was made of range net, nipa and bamboo. The total area of the house including its free-range area is 108 square meters. Waterers and feeders were prepared in each area. The house was cleaned and disinfected before the introduction of the experimental birds in different area to avoid diseases.

Procurement of chicken

Eighty (80) heads of day-old ZamPen chicks was purchased at Calinao Farm in Barangay Lapedian, Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. Upon the arrival of the chicks, it was given electrolytes to prevent dehydration due to travel stress and later it was given small number of feeds.

Experimental design and treatment

The study was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four (4) treatments and three (3) replications. Thirty-six (36) heads of ZamPen native chicken were randomly distributed to each area with four (3) chickens per cage.

The experimental treatments were as follows:

• T1- 230 mg of Albendazole powder in a capsule (control)
• T2- 230 mg of powdered Papaya seed in a capsule
• T3- 230 mg of powdered Ipil-Ipil seed in a capsule
• T4- 230 mg of powdered Betel nut in a capsule.

Distribution and Recognition of the Chicken

After 45 days of brooding, the birds were distributed to their area through randomization. Each leg of the bird was attached with a leg band with a number before the birds are distributed in their area for proper identification during data gathering.

Care and management

Before feeding, the waterers and feeding troughs was checked and washed to avoid contaminants and other foreign organisms that may hinder the growth and development of the chicken. The chicken house will be constructed properly to prevent the entry of stray animals and other pests that will attack the chickens.

Restricted feeding system was employed in the study. Clean drinking water was available at all times. Proper sanitation and strict biosecurity program were imposed in the area to avoid diseases of the birds.

Preparation of different plant-based anthelmintics

Gathering and collection of papaya seeds, ipil-ipil seeds and betel nut

The ripe papaya, matured ipil-ipil seeds and betel nuts was gathered from the different places of municipalities of Lower Sibatang, Pagadian and San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur. The same variety of plants was used.

Preparation of papaya seeds

The seeds were collected freshly from ripe papaya fruit. The fruit was cut into halves by a knife and scraped out the seeds with a spoon. Then it is washed with clean water to removed dirt and placed in a clean container. The seeds were sun-dried and later grinded into powder using a blender.

Preparation of ipil-ipil seeds

The ipil-ipil seeds were sun-dried for a few days until they were fully dried. Then later, grinded into powder using a blender.

Preparation of Betel Nut

The fresh betel nut fruit was cut into halves and the meat of the nut as separated from the shell by using a knife and was placed in a clean container. The fresh nut was sun-dried for a few days until they were fully dried. Then later grinded in a manual grinder and transfer it to the blender to made it fully powderized.

Preparation of powder into a capsulized form

The making of different plant-based anthelmintics capsules was manually done. After making the capsules, it was weighed using analytical balance. According to the agricultural market, the available dosage for an anthelmintic capsule was 230 mg, dosage for the papaya seeds powder, ipil-ipil seeds powder and betel nut powder was packed also by 230 mg.

Administration of different natural dewormers

The experimental birds were orally administered twice a month and was observed after administration.

Collection of feces

A day prior to the administration of plant-based anthelmintics, the birds was weighed, and fresh feces was collected from each treatment for the fecal examination. Counting the number of internal parasites' eggs undergo floatation method with an interval of 30 seconds and was examined using the electronic microscope.

After administration of the different plant-based anthemintics, the same number of samples of fresh feces excreted was immediately collected and examined using the electronic microscope.

1. Number of internal parasites’s eggs and larvae before the administration of different plant-based anthelmintics.
2. Number of internal parasite’s eggs and larvae and adult internal parasites after the administration of different plant-based anthelmintics.

Statistical analysis

The data will be subjected to the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in Randomized Complete Block Design (CRD) and significant differences among treatment through the Tukey Test.

Results and Dicsussion

This chapter presents the findings, analysis and interpretation of the gathered data on the internal parasite’s eggs, larvae and adult expelled after the administration of different plant-based anthelmintics of ZamPen Native Chicken.

Table 1 presents the effects of the different plant-based anthelmintics on the EPG count of internal parasite’s eggs expelled before and after administration. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant difference on the period of administration within treatments. Highest EPG count expelled was recorded in the first administration, followed by before administration, second administration and lastly on the third administration. This implies that plant-based anthelmintics are effective in the reduction of parasites eggs from first to last administration. This conform with the study of Ozaraga, et al. (2017) that papaya (Carica papaya) seeds, ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) and betel nut (Areca catechu) was effective in reducing the EPG count of roundworms of Darag native chicken.

Note: Means in a column with the same letter are not significantly different at 5% (Tukey test).

Table 1: EPG count of internal parasite’s eggs expelled before and after administration of different plant-based anthelmintics

Table 2 shows the number of internal parasite larvae expelled before and after the administration of different plant-based anthelmintics. For Treatment 1, during the first administration, the highest number of internal parasite larvae were collected followed by the second administration, before administration, and in the last administration, no larvae collected. Treatment 2, during the first administration, got the highest number of internal parasite larvae collected followed by the second administration, third administration, and the last before administration. Treatment 3, during the second administration got the highest number of internal parasite’s larvae recorded followed by first administration, third administration and lastly before administration. For treatment 4, the highest number of internal parasites larvae was collected during the first administration, followed by second administration, third administration and lastly before administration.

Note: Means in a column with the same letter are not significantly different at 5% (Tukey test).

Table 2: Number of internal parasite’s larvae expelled before and after the administration of different plant-based anthelmintics

Table 3 presents the number of adult internal parasites expelled before and after administration of different plant-based anthelmintics. For treatment 1 (control), no adult parasites were expelled during the study. Treatment 2, adult internal parasites were expelled during the second and first administrations with a mean of 1.31 and 1.28 but not significantly different. For treatment 3, only during the first administration was an adult parasites expelled. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant difference among periods of administration. In treatment 4, the first administration expelled the most adult parasites followed by second and third administrations but not significantly different among periods of administration.

Note: Means in a column with the same letter are not significantly different at 5% (Tukey test).

Table 3: Number of adult parasites expelled before and after the administration of different plant-based anthelmintics

This implies that plant-based anthelmintics are effective in expelling adult parasites. This conforms with the study of Tangalin, et al. (2011) where the result of the expulsion of adult internal parasites is due to the administration of powdered betel nuts.

Conclusion

This chapter contains the conclusion and recommendations in relation to the effectivity of different plant-based anthelmintics in relation to Egg Per Gram (EPG) count of internal parasite eggs, number of internal parasites,and adult expelled after the administration of different plant-based anthelmintics. 

• The highest EPG count expelled was recorded in the first administration, followed by before administration, the second administration, and the third administration. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant difference in the administration period within treatments. This implies that plant-based anthelmintics are effectively reduce parasites eggs from the first to last administration. 

• The highest number of internal parasites larvae expelled was observed during the first administration of plant-based anthelmintics, except for Treatment 3, the highest number of larvae expelled was observed in the 2nd administration.

• The highest number of adult parasites expelled was recorded in the first administration of plant-based anthelmintics. For treatment 3, statistical analysis revealed a highly significant result among administration periods. This implies that plant-based anthelmintics are effective in expelling adult parasites.

Recommendation

Based on the summary of findings and conclusion of the study, the following are recommended:

1. Administration or use of plant-based anthelmintics such as betel nut, papaya seeds and ipil-ipil seeds as effective natural dewormers for native chickens. These plants have demonstrated anthelmintic properties and may use as natural remedies against parasitic worms.

2. Further study may be conducted using these plant-based anthelmintics to other monogastric animals.

Acknowledgement

The author would like to acknowledge the JH Cerilles State College for supporting and funding this research.

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that there are no competing interests exist.

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