SYNERGISTIC ANTI-BACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF Vernonia amygdalina AND Ocimum gratissimum IN BROILER

ABSTRACT

Poultry refer to domestic birds such as chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks. This present study evaluated the synergistic anti-bacterial activity of bitter-leaves (Vernonia amygdalina) and scent leaves (Ocimum gratissimum) in broiler experiencing secondary bacterial infection due to mareks diseases. A total of eighteen (18) day old apparently healthy broilers weighing 45g to 50g were purchased from a reputable hatchery in Oyo State, Nigeria. They were given clean water and feed for the duration of the study. The broilers were divided into three (3) groups of six (6) broilers each, group A, group B and group C. Group A contained apparently healthy broilers which served as the negative control while group B contained the sick broilers experiencing secondary bacterial infection due to Mareks diseases that was treated with V.amygdalina and Ocimum gratissimum leaves infusion and group C were treated with antibiotics (Doxygen) which served as the positive control. Furthermore, Gambaro vaccine and Booster dose were administered at day seven and day twenty-one respectively to induce an immune response against Infectious Bursal disease. Lasota vaccine was also administered to the birds at day fourteen (14) and twenty-eight (28). Fresh V.amygdalina and Ocimum gratissimum leaves was purchased from Uselu market Edo State, Nigeria and they were taken to the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin for definitive identification.