Effects of <i>Phyllanthus amarus</i> on faecal loads of <i>Salmonella enteritidis</i> and castor-oil induced diarrhoea in broiler chickens

Abstract

A 21 day study on the antibacterial and antidiarrhoeal potentials of methanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus leaf (PAL) in Salmonella  enteritidis (SE) and castor oil (CO) induced diarrhoea in broiler chickens was conducted. Seventy-five, 5 week old broiler chickens were randomly allotted to seven treatments; T₁= distilled water, T₂= SE inoculum, T₃= SE + PAL, T₄ = SE + Enrofloxacin, T₅ = CO, T₆ = CO + PAL and T₇ = CO + Loperamide. T₁ – T₄ were replicated thrice whereas T₅ to T₇ had 5 birds each. T₂ – T₄ received SE orally with T₃ and T₄ continued on PAL for another 4 days. Faeces were collected weekly post infection from T₁ – T₄. CO was administered to T₁, T₅, T₆ and T₇ 18 hours post-fasting. PAL reduced faecal Salmonella counts as the weeks progressed. PAL inhibited diarrhea better than Loperamide. Therefore, PAL could be used as an antibacterial and antidiarrhoeal in broiler chickens.