Abstract:
The health status and productivity of small ruminants i.e. sheep and goats is key in the development of the livestock industry of Uganda and particularly Iganga district. However gastrointestinal challenges majorly diarrhoea continuously causes significant impacts on the health status of the goats and sheep and to livestock farmers in the area.
A comprehensive survey was done in Iganga district to generate information on the traditional use of the selected plants with medicinal importance by farmers in the management of diarrhoea in sheep and goats. The questionnaire is attached as Appendix 3.
Test organisms that cause diarrhoea in goats and sheep including; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aureginosa were obtained from clinical isolations at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. Disc diffusion method was used for the antibacterial assay.The disc diffusion assay was used where Waltman’s paper was soaked in crude extract and placed on the inoculated MHA plates.
Generally, all medicinal plants had inhibitory effects against all the test organisms. Among the extracts, Callistemon viminalis had the highest inhibitory zone against E. coli (7.293±3.322), followed by Carica papaya (7.0±1.0), Psidium guajava (6.6670.333) and Cannabis sativa and Nicotiana tabacum which had the same inhibition zone (6.0±0.00). Oxytetracycline had the highest inhibitory zone (13.0±3.055).
According to sensitivity, Staphylococcus aureus is the most resistant organism, as it has the lowest mean inhibition (P value 0.0009). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is intermediate in sensitivity, with a mean inhibition of (P value <0.0001) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most sensitive organism, exhibiting the highest mean inhibition of (P value > 0.05).
Therefore, in terms of sensitivity of the microorganism to the tested plant extracts, the ranking from most resistant to most sensitive is Staphylococcus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli.
In conclusion, farmers in Nakigo sub county use medicinal plants in the management of diarrhea in sheep and goats and among the plants are; Callistemon viminalis, Nicotiana tabacum, Carica papaya, Psidium guajava and Cannabis sativa.
