Anticoccidial activity of aqueous extract of a wild mushroom (Ganoderma applanatum) during experimentally induced coccidial infection in broiler chicken

Abstract

Despite presence of anticoccidial drugs and vaccines in the market, coccidiosis continues to result in substantial economic losses to the poultry industry. There is wide-spread resistance to already known anticoccidial drugs. It is an infectious disease of poultry and rigorous management is required during vaccination. In addition there is possibility of drug residues in meat and other byproducts of such treated animals and consequently makes more imperative to explore and understand the role of natural products in livestock parasite management. Therefore a study was designed to evaluate the anticoccidial activity of aqueous extract of Ganoderma applanatum in broiler chicken. In-vivo anticoccidial activity of aqueous extract of G. applanatum was measured in comparison to the reference drug amprolium on the basis of oocysts per gram of faeces, weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Oocyst output was measured with the help of Mc-Masters counting technique. The results of this study established the virulence of coccidian oocysts and the effectiveness of both amprolium and aqueous extract of G. applanatum against coccidian oocysts, confirmed by the fact that treatment with aqueous extract of G. applanatum resulted in a noticeable reduction in coccidian oocysts output, leading to improved weight gain and better feed conversion ratio.The study highlighted the potential of G. applanatum as a natural source of bioactive components for controlling a protozoan parasite, which can be isolated and tested in a bioassay-guided manner and harnessed in the form of anticoccidial drugs.

Phytochemical control of poultry coccidiosis: a review

“…Ameliorates bloody diarrhea. ( Ogbe et al, 2008 ; Ogbe et al, 2010 ; Ahad et al, 2016 ). Glycyrrhiza glabra, Gypsophila paniculate, Aesculus hippocastanum .…”

Inhibitory activities of ethanolic extracts of two macrofungi against eggs and miracidia of Fasciola spp.

“…Other parasites that have been shown to be sensitive to Cantharellus cibarius and Ganoderma applanatum are Leishmania donovani and Plasmodium falciparum [ 35 ], trypanosomes [ 17 ], and Eimeria spp. [ 18 ]. Some biologically active compounds present in the mushrooms have been suggested to prevent colonization of the intestine by parasites such as Eimeria spp.…”

“…Some biologically active compounds present in the mushrooms have been suggested to prevent colonization of the intestine by parasites such as Eimeria spp. [ 18 ] and inhibit locomotion in flagellated parasitic protozoans such as trypanosomes [ 17 ]. Although this was not confirmed, an increase in the amount of the bioactive constituents in the ethanolic extracts of Ganoderma applanatum compared to Cantharellus cibarius could contribute to its superior ovicidal and miracicidal activities.…”

“…The mushroom specimens were identified by a mushroom taxonomist at the Department of Botany, University of Ibadan. The choice of these macrofungi was based on earlier reports of their anti-parasitic activities [ 17 , 18 ]. So we seek to further extend their spectrum of known activities against the egg and immature stage of Fasciola spp.…”

“…Very few reports are available on the anti-parasitic potentials of Cantharellus and Ganoderma macrofungi. While Cantharellus cibarius shows promising bioactivity against trypanosome [ 17 ], Ganoderna applanatum is favored against the oocyst of Eimeria species [ 18 ]. To further extend the spectrum of anti-parasitic activities of the two mushrooms, the ethanolic extracts of the two macrofungi were tested on the eggs and the immature free swimming miracidia of Fasciola spp.…”