A controlled study to determine the efficacy of Loxostylis alata (Anacardiaceae) in the treatment of aspergillus in a chicken (Gallus domesticus) model in comparison to ketoconazole

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.The results indicate that a crude extract of L. alata leaves has potential as an antifungal agent to protect poultry against avian aspergillosis.The poultry industry which is an important component in world agricultural economy faces heavy economic losses due to many health hazards caused by the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Losses caused low productivity, mortality and carcass condemnations at slaughter [1-3]. About US$11 million is the reported as average yearly lost due to aspergillosis alone in the USA [3]. The disease affects mainly the respiratory tract of birds and has a worldwide distribution, having been reported in almost every farmed bird as well as in wild species [3].As a disease, aspergillosis affects birds whether in captive or free-ranging environments, young and mature, and whether immunocompetent or immunosuppressed. However, young birds appear to be much more susceptible than adults. The lower respiratory tract is where Aspergillus spp. tends to initially colonize [4] but blood infection with subsequent dissemination to other organs frequently occurs, leading to macroscopic lesions in a wide range of organs or tissues. In spontaneous cases, lesions range from miliary to larger granulomatous foci [5]. These white lesions are protrusive to the surface of the internal organ. Thickening of the walls of the air sacs frequently occurs [6]. Lesions in avian species are commonly confined to the lungs and air sacs, although infections also occurs in oral mucosa, trachea, brain, eye, skin, bone, liver, kidney and nasal passages have also been described [7,8]. Typi