Efficacy of pumpkin seeds against gastrointestinal nematodes in goats.

Abstract

Goats are an important livestock species as they are a source of food, income, manure, hide and also used for social and cultural purposes, However Gastrointestinal Nematodes are a main constraint to goat production causing anorexia, condition loss due to reduced feed conversion efficiency; reduced growth, 19S5 of blood and even death thus economic loss. Currently, commercial synthetic anthelmintics are used to treat GINs in goats, however there is increasing anthelmintic resistance in goats as well as other negative side effects such as pollution and residues in animal products. Therefore, alternative control methods to complement or replace commercially available anthelmintic have been explored, developed and put into' practice in order to-reduce losses caused by GIN in goats. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of pumpkin seed aqueous extract on gastrointestinal nematodes of goats. Pumpkin seeds aqueous extract was prepared and administered orally to goats for the evaluation of anthelmintic activity. Results were expressed in terms of mean fecal egg count per gram and fecal egg Worm reduction test (efficacy) between group A of treated goats and group B which was the control as well as for the different gastrointestinal nematodes under study which were Haemonchuscontortus, Oesophagostomumspp, Trichurisspp, Trichostronglusspp, Cooperiacurticei,Nematodirusspathige rand Strongloidespapilosus. The pumpkin seed aqueous extract showed 54% efficacy against the GINs of goats and showed highest efficacy againstStrongloidespapilosus at 81% therefore it was the most responsive followed by Cooperiaourticei at 80%~fol1owed by Trichurisspp at 75% then Trichostronglusspp at 74% then Nemaiodtrusspathigerat 68%, Oesophagostomumspp at 47% and lastly Haemonchuscontortus at 13%. The mean Fecal egg per gram count reduced in the treated. group post treatment. while it increased in the control group with the treated group A having a mean fecal egg worm per grarit count Qf413.04pre-treatment and 184.47 post treatment and control group having meanfecal egg per gram count of.273.29 pre-treatment and 403.72 post treatment p<O.05 showed significant difference between Epa of group A goat before and after treatment. In conclusion pumpkin seeds have anthelmintic activity against gastrointestinal nematodes in goats, However the FECR of 54% found in this study does not meet the proposed minimum standard of 90% for development of a new anthelminticor even WAAVP's standard of 80% that indicates moderate efficacy, therefore pumpkin seedsaqueous extract would be used more appropriately as an aid in the control of gastrointestinal parasites together with good management practices rather than being used for treatment.