THERMOPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS TREATED OF Prosopis africana AND Azadirachta indica LEAF EXTRACTS UNDER Eimeria INFECTION

Thermophysiological responses (rectal temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate) are important indicators of stress and disease in goats. Coccidiosis alters homeostasis, while phytogenic extracts may modulate stress responses. This study investigated the effect of Prosopis africana and Azadirachta indica leaf extracts on thermophysiological responses of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats experimentally challenged with Eimeria species. A total of 20 WAD goats were allocated into 5 groups with four goats each: negative control, positive control (Embazin forte 100mg), P. africana (0.1ml), and A. indica (0.1ml), and combined P. africana + A. indica (0.05ml each). Parameters measured included rectal temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate over a 35 day period. Results revealed significant (p<0.05) treatment effects on heart rate and respiratory rate at different intervals, Rectal temperature remained largely within the physiological range (37.0-39.0°C) across groups, with significant variation observed on day 28, where Embazin forte (38.43°C) and the combined treatment (38.30°C) were higher than the negative control (37.08°C). Heart rate differed significantly (p<0.05), with P. africana treated goats recording higher values (97.00bpm at day 28) compared to Embazin forte (75.25bpm). Respiratory rate also varied across treatments: P. africana treated goats had elevated values (45.50bpm at day 35), while A. indica (25.25bpm at day 14) and combined treatment (22.50bpm at day 14) maintained lower rates. These findings demonstrate that P. africana and A. indica extracts modulate rectal temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate in WAD goats under coccidial challenge, with A. indica and combined treatments showing better stabilization of physiological parameters.