Influence of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis M.) as an alternative to antibiotics on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and haemato-biochemical indices of broiler chickens

BACKGROUND

Medicinal herbs as classes of additives to poultry feeds have proven to be beneficial due to their antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

OBJECTIVE

A 6-week study was conducted to assess the effects of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis M.) as an alternative to antibiotics on the growth performance, carcass traits and haemato-biochemical parameters of broiler chickens.

METHODS

A total of 240 unsexed commercial broiler chickens, 2 weeks old, were randomly allocated to four treatments: T1 (negative control), T2 (positive control, 1 g/L oxytetracycline), T3 (0.5% Aloe vera gel extract) and T4 (1% Aloe vera gel extract) in a completely randomised design (CRD), with six replicates of 10 birds per replicate. The Aloe vera gel extract was administered in fresh drinking water.

RESULTS

The results revealed across all the treatment groups, no significant (p > 0.05) differences were found in terms of growth performance and carcass traits. However, the mortality rate was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the positive control and the Aloe vera groups compared to the negative control. Total cholesterol, total glucose, and high-density lipoprotein values for the experimental groups (T3 and T4) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of the control groups. The values for red blood cell count, haemoglobin content, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration for the birds treated with Aloe vera gel were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

It is therefore concluded that the addition of Aloe vera gel extracts up to 1% in the drinking water could replace antibiotics in broiler chickens without any adverse effects on the health status and the performance of birds.

The chemotherapy of onchocerciasis. XV. Studies with albendazole

Ninety-two males, infected with Onchocerca volvulus, from an area of on-going transmission in the forest zone of southern Ghana were treated with albendazole. 31 patients received 800 mg daily x 3, 31 received 1200 mg daily x 3 and 30 others received 800 mg daily x 7. Albendazole was given as a single daily dose with a fatty breakfast. Detailed systemic, ocular and laboratory examinations were performed pretreatment and at intervals over one year. Nodules were extirpated on days 30 and 60 and examined by histopathology. All the dose regimes were well tolerated but were neither microfilaricidal nor macrofilaricidal. The main effect was embryotoxicity affecting all intra-uterine stages. The most encouraging results were obtained in the 800 mg daily x 3 group in which a prolonged suppression of skin microfilarial counts occurred. Controlled studies in combination with ivermectin are recommended to determine whether an additive effect of the two drugs would result in permanent sterilisation of the adult worms.