Objectives: In this study, the changes in serum biochemical parameters in broiler chickens pre-ad¬ministered with methanol extracts of Ganoderma lucidum, Vernonia amygdalina leaves, and Vitellaria paradoxa stem bark and challenged with Eimeria tenella were assessed.
Materials and Methods: One hundred 1-day-old Abor acre broiler chicks were randomly divided into 10 groups as follows: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2, E, and F. From 14 to 20 days of age (doa), extracts of G. lucidum were administered to groups A1 and A2; V. amygdalina to B1 and B2; V. paradoxa to C1 and C2; Amprolium to D1 and D2; and E was the positive control, while F was the negative control. At 21 doa, each bird in groups A2, B2, C2, D2, and E were challenged orally with E. tenella sporulated oocysts. Blood was collected at 14, 21, and 28 doa into labelled plain tubes and analyzed for biochemical parameters.
Results: The outcomes revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the biochemical param¬eters in all groups of broiler chickens at 14 and 21 doa. At 28 doa, there were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and increased catalase (CAT) activities in challenged groups than in unchallenged groups. Among the challenged groups, there was a non-significantly (p > 0.05) lower SOD activity, higher CAT, glutathione peroxidase activities, and malondialdehyde level in group E than in groups A2, B2, C2, and D2.
Conclusion: The pre-treatment of E. tenella-challenged broiler chickens with the methanol extracts of G. lucidum, V. amygdalina leaf, and V. paradoxa stem bark significantly ameliorated changes in SOD and CAT activities.
Key words: Eimeria tenella; serum biochemical changes; methanol extract; Ganoderma lucidum; Vernonia amygdalina; Vitellaria paradoxa
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