Evaluation of Anthhelmintic Potential of Pawpaw (Carica papaya) Seeds Administered In-Feed and In-Water for West African Dwarf (WAD) Goatss

Abstract

Forty West African Dwarf (WAD) goats (average 10kg±0.25kg bodyweight) infected naturally with helminthes were used to evaluate the effectiveness of Carica papaya seeds in aqueous and crude extract forms against intestinal worms. The animals were randomly assigned into four treatment groups: GI, GII, GIII and GIV consisting of 10goats/group. GI animals were not treated while GII underwent Thiabendazole anthelmintic treatment. GIII and GIV were medically given the powdery and aqueous forms of C. papaya seed extract via feed and water respectively. Before anthelmintic treatments and after the 1^st and 2^nd two weeks of administering the anthelminth, faecal and blood samples were collected for parasitological and haematological analysis. Data collected were subjected to one-way ANOVA. Treatments of both aqueous and powdery forms of C. papaya seed extract resulted into a significant increase in lymphocyte counts, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin concentration. Conversely, there was significant decrease in the eosinophil counts. The reductions in the faecal egg counts of helminth when C. papaya seed extract were applied are comparable to those obtained for thiabendazole treatment. However, the effects of aqueous form of C. papaya seed extract were more conspicuous than the crude (powdery) extract administered via the feed. The results from this study suggests that extracts from C. papaya seeds could be of potential use as alternative anthelminthic to synthetic dewormers in therapeutic or sub-therapeutic use for production animals.

Keywords: Anthelmintic, haematology, helminthes, parasitology, thiabendazole