Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The poultry industry due to intensive methods of farming is burdened with losses from numerous
infectious agents, of which one is the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. In a preliminary study, the extracts of Loxostylis
alata A. Spreng, ex Rchb. showed good activity in vitro against A. fumigatus with a minimum inhibitory
concentration of 0.07 mg/ml. For this study crude, a crude acetone extract of L. alata leaves was evaluated for its
acute toxicity in a healthy chicken model and for efficacy in an infectious model of aspergillosis (A. fumigatus).
RESULTS: At a dose of 300 mg/kg, the extract induced some toxicity characterised by decreased feed intake and
weight loss. Consequently, 100 and 200 mg/kg were used to ascertain efficacy in the infectious model. The plant
extract significantly reduced clinical disease in comparison to the control in a dose dependant manner. The extract
was as effective as the positive control ketoconazole dosed at 60 mg/kg.
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that a crude extract of L. alata leaves has potential as an antifungal agent to
protect poultry against avian aspergillosis.
