ETHNOVETERINARY MEDICINES EVALUATION FOR ENDOPARASITE CONTROL IN GOATS

Abstract

The current study evaluated the anthelmintic effects of certain ethnoveterinary medicinal plants traditionally used by the rural communities in the control of endoparasites in goats.  A traditional medical study revealed 14 frequently used plant species, out of which Carica papaya, Allium sativum and Azadirachta indica were selected and validated in vitro and in vivo.  A total of 60 infected goats were subjected to fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT), blood tests and biochemical testing over a 28-day trial period.  All the plant extracts significantly reduced parasite burdens as indicated by the results. On Day 28, Carica papaya had reduced them by 78%, Allium sativum by 73% and Azadirachta indica by 71%.  The effectively treated groups had an improvement in packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin and serum protein levels, and this implied that they were recovering or improving so far as parasite anemia was concerned.  Additionally, treated goats attained considerable weight and achieved higher appetite scores.  The presence of bioactive compounds, namely, alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids, which are known to have antiparasitic properties, was confirmed by phytochemical screening.  The paper highlights the usefulness of the conventional plant-based remedies as potential, cost-effective substitutes to artificial anthelmintics in controlling gastrointestinal nematode infections in goats.  The findings support the integration of ethnoveterinary practices in current parasite control initiatives, especially in regions where anthelmintic resistance and limited veterinary services are prevailing.  Further standardization and pharmacological safety studies should be done to enhance their clinical application.