Control of Heterakis gallinae in laying hens using Carica papaya seed powder

Abstract

The research was carried out at the Basic Business Unit Antonio Maceo, in the locality William Soler, Bayamo, Granma province, with the objective of evaluating the effect of Carica papaya seed powder on the level of infestation of Heterakis gallinae in laying hens. A phytochemical screening of the plant seed powder was carried out. The experiment consisted of four treatments with the addition of (0; 0,5; 1,0 and 1,5 %) of the powder. For the control group, 1 % piperazine was used at a dose of 500 mg/bird for three days. Forty 14-week-old White leghorn laying hens (Hybrid L-33) with a history of nematode infestation were selected and placed in cages for three weeks, according to a completely randomized design, with four treatments of 10 replicates per treatment and one bird per replicate. Phytochemical screening of the seeds showed the presence of secondary metabolites that favored antiparasitic activity. The effect of Carica papaya seed powder on the egg count by means of the Mc Master technique did not show significant differences between treatments; at 14 days there were differences between the different variants used, increasing the number of eggs in the control treatment with respect to seven days and a decrease in the parasite load was perceived with the lowest results for 1,5 % of the powder, which demonstrated the economic viability for its use in the parasitic control of farm animals.