Effects of Basil (<em>Ocimum basilicum</em> L.) on the Haematology of Broiler Chicks Following Experimental Coccidial Infection

Abstract

This investigation into the effect of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) on the hematologic indices was conducted using 180 broiler chicks experimentally infected with sporulated coccidial oocysts. The broiler chicks were divided into four groups of 45 birds each and further replicated three times with 15 birds per replicate. They were subjected to experimental coccidial infection through drinking water. Infection was confirmed by fecal microscopy following administration of an infective dose of about 100 sporulated oocysts per bird. After the experimental infection, the chicks were subjected to 7 days treatment with graded levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 g Basil/300g feed) of Basil in the diet with 0g basil/300g feed serving as control treatment. At the end seventh day, four chicks per treatment were randomly slaughtered for blood analysis. Results from the study revealed that Basil had no significant (p>0.05) effect on Mean Cell Volume (MCV) and Mean Cell Hemoglobin (MCH) in the main plot. In the subplots (Basil levels), 5g basil/300g feed group had the highest MCV (92.30 pg), against the control (85.30 pg). Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Hemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell (RBC) and White Blood Cell (WBC) counts were not significantly (p>0.05) different across subplots. The study reveals that Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) has no major effects on the hematological parameters of broiler chicks at the different levels of inclusion studied.

Keywords: Broiler, coccidiosis, sporulated oocysts, Ocimum basilicum, feed, hematology