Histo-Pathology Of Some Internal Organs Of Broiler Chickens Infected With Salmonella enteritidis And Treated With Methanol Extract Of Phyllanthus amarus’ Leaves

Abstract

A 21 d study was carried out to determine the histo-architectural defects associated with spleen, kidney, liver, heart and intestine of Salmonella enteritidis-infected broiler chickens treated with methanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus’ leaves. Sixty (60) 5-week old unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens on deep litter system were used for the study. They were allotted into 4 groups of T₁ = distilled water (control), T₂ = Salmonella enteritidis (SE) (1 × 10⁷ CFU/mL, per os), T₃ = SE + P. amarus (150 mg/kg), and T₄ = SE + enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg, per os) in a completely randomized design and replicated thrice with 5 birds/replicate. One hour prior to inoculation of SE, T₃ and T₄ received P. amarus and enrofloxacin respectively which continued till expiration of study, whereas T₁ and T₂ received distilled water and SE respectively via the oral route. At the end of study, a bird per replicate was randomly sampled of the spleen, kidney, liver, heart, and intestine for histopathological examination. There were no observable lesions on T₁ plates. Meanwhile, the liver showed multifocal hepatocellular coagulation necrosis, and inflammation (T₂), moderate atrophy of hepatic plates (T₃) and hepatocellular atrophy, coagulation necrosis and inflammation (T₄). Other pathological lesions were seen in T₂of all organs due to effect of SE and T₄ of the intestine that showcased moderate villi atrophy and cryptal necrosis. This showed that P. amarus was able to alleviate toxic manifestations occasioned by SE inoculation except in the liver where the lesion was however moderate.