Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences

Effects of prophylactic treatment with methanol leaf extract of Anacardium occidentale on some serum biochemistry parameters of chickens infected with velogenic Newcastle disease virus

Jacinta N. Omeke^1*, Iniobong C. Ugochukwu¹, John I. Ihedioha¹, Aruh O. Anaga², Wilfred S. Ezema¹, John O. A. Okoye¹1Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. ²Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of prophylactic treatment with methanol leaf extract of Anacardium occidentale (MLEAO) on the serum biochemistry parameters of chickens infected with velogenic Newcastle disease virus (vNDV). One hundred and twenty five chickens, randomly assigned into five groups (A – E) of 25 each, were used for the study. Chickens in groups A, B and C were each drenched with 300, 150 and 75 mg/kg body weight of MLEAO, respectively for 7 days. Thereafter, chickens in groups A, B, C and D were infected with vNDV. Group D was the untreated infected control, while Group E was the untreated uninfected control. Blood samples for serum biochemistry assay were collected on day 0 (baseline), day 7 of the prophylactic treatment (PT), and on days 3 and 6 post-infection (PI) with vNDV, and biochemical assays were done following standard procedures. Results showed that on day 7 of the PT, there were significant (p < 0.05) alterations in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and levels of serum proteins, albumins, uric acid and calcium in some of the MLEAO-treated groups especially group A, and on days 3 and 6 PI, the significant (p < 0.05) alterations in AST, ALP, proteins, albumins, globulins, uric acid, calcium and phosphorus persisted in mainly groups A and B. Chickens in Group C had significantly (p < 0.05) higher serum protein and globulin levels when compared to those of Groups A, B and D. It was concluded that treatment of chickens with MLEAO at 300 mg/kg dose mainly and to a lesser extent at 150 mg/kg led to adverse serum biochemical outcomes such as elevation of serum AST activity and levels of serum uric acid, and depression of serum ALP activity and levels of serum proteins, albumins, globulin, calcium and phosphorus, while its administration at 75 mg/kg dose led to stabilized cell membrane permeability and enhanced total protein and globulin synthesis.

Keywords: Anacardium occidentale; Methanol extract; Newcastle disease virus infection; Prophylaxis, Chicken; Serum biochemistry.

How to cite this article:
Omeke JN, Ugochukwu IC, Ihedioha JI, Anaga AO, Ezema WS and Okoye JOA (2023). Effects of prophylactic treatment with methanol leaf extract of Anacardium occidentale on some serum biochemistry parameters of chickens infected with velogenic Newcastle disease virus. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 13(2): 202 – 213.

*Correspondence: E-mail: jacinta.omeke@unn.edu.ng Phone: +2348037932717