Evaluation of Lawsonia inermis L.  for Its Anticoccidial Activity in Desi Birds

Lawsonia inermis’s anti-coccidial observations in desi birds were carried out. During the study, thirty (30) birds of four (4) weeks of age were purchased from the surrounding areas of Hyderabad district. The birds were randomly divided into six groups (A, B, C, D, E, and F) with five birds in each group. Group A was control (without any treatment), and groups B, C, and D were treated with Lawsonia inermis L. at dose rates of 1g/kg feed, 2g/kg feed, and 4g/kg feed respectively. Among all treated groups, the best group for maximum cidal activity was selected and was compared with toltrazuril at a dose rate of 2g/litter in the water against Eimeria tenella cidal activity and their effect on organ weight. For this purpose, the following parameters were recorded such as oocysts count, organ weight, lesion scoring, gut weight, weig654321` ht of immune organs and body scoring. Results revealed lowest oocyst count in toltrazuril followed by lawsonia treatment groups as comparison to the control group (0.99 vs 1.98). While to organ weight the maximum weight of liver (12.70g), heart (2.02g), and gizzard (22.28g) was recorded in group E treated with toltrazuril, followed by group F treated with lawsonia (10.11g), heart (1.90g) and gizzard (19.68g) as compared to control (Eimeria infected) group A minimum weight of liver (9.75G), heart (1.52g) and gizzard (18.40g), and a significant difference was observed in lesion score after 7 and 13 days of treatment (toltrazuril 1.00 & 0.38 followed by lawsonia 2.02 & 1.44) against control (3.12 & 3.56). Additionally, a significant difference was observed in the weight of different parts of the gut, which includes intestine weight (32.46g vs 31.38g) and proventriculus (2.34g vs 2.10g). Moreover, a significant difference was observed in immune organs which include the spleen (1.25g vs 1.39g), bursa (1.25g vs 1.37g), and thymus gland (0.20g vs 0.21g) in comparison to toltrazuril group. In addition to this, body score after lawsonia also showed a significant difference between groups (toltrazuril, lawsonia against control). So it was concluded from the study that Lawsonia inermis L. has a significant impact on organ development and immune organs in addition to anti-oocidal activity.