A Study of the Potential of Using the Goat Weed (Ageratum Conyzoides) as an Anticoccidia Agent in Chicken

This study investigated the speculation that the goat weed, Ageratum conyzoides, has antiprotozoan activity. Various concentrations of potable water and whole extracts of the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides were administered to 5-week old broiler chicken that had been infected with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria. The commercial coccidiostats, Amprox and Coxisol, were also administered for comparison. Faeces were harvested from the recta of the experimental chicken over a 5-day period and assayed for oocyst populations. Results of this study suggested that although an inoculum size of 7300 oocysts was administered to the experimental chicken, varying populations of oocysts (n) got established after 5 days before commencement of treatments. Pertinent coccidia populations reductions were as follows: 10%water extract 96% (n=3388), 10% whole extract 81.7% (n=1500), Coxisol 97% (n=1216) and Amprocox 85.9% (n=1600). Pathohistological investigation with treatment with 10% whole extract of Ageratum conyzoides did not find any lesions in the heart, liver, lungs kidney and spleen.