Phytotherapy of Djallonke Lambs Co-infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (Trichostrongylidae) Using Methanol Extracts of Two Medicinal Plants in Menoua Division, West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

This study was performed on the West African Dwarf sheep which were experimentally infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostromgylus colubriformis. We intended to investigate the anthelmintic potential of two plants: Harungana madagascariensis and Momordica foetida. During this experiment, 24 male lambs (Age: 3-5 months) were divided into 8 groups: An untreated control (Group 1), Albendazole 7.5 mg/kg (positive control Group); Harungana. madagascariensis 125 mg/ kg (Group 3); Harungana madagascariensis 250 mg/ kg (Group 4); Harungana madagascariensis 500 mg/ kg (Group 5); M. foetida 125 mg/ kg (Group 6); M. foetida 250 mg/kg (Group 7); M. foetida 500 mg/kg (Group 8). Treatment with albendazole 7.5 mg/kg, M. foetida (250 and 500 mg/kg) and H. madagascariensis (500 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) reduced egg per gram of faeces, adult worm load and diarrhoea scores, while improving feed intake, food conversion efficiency and weight gain of lambs when compared with untreated controls The highest EPG reduction rate was recorded in albendazole treatment group (98.64%) followed by M. foetida 500 mg/kg (77.78%), then H. madagascariensis with a reduction rate of 52.03%. There was a strong positive correlation between food conversion efficiency and weight gain (r = 0.99**, P=0.00); while adult worm burden and food conversion efficiency were negatively correlated (r = -0.68, P = 0.00). Methanol extracts of M. foetida possessed significant anthelmintic potential at dose 500 and 250 mg/kg while H. madagsacariensis. exhibited only mild anthelmintic activity at 500 mg/kg. However, H. madagascariensis was more efficient in preventing or treating diarrhoea at 250 mg/kg than M. foetida at the same dose.