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126 130

Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Vol. 7, No. 1, March, 2008, ISSN: 0189-823X
All Rights Reserved

ETHNOVETERINARY REMEDIES USED FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF
NEWCASTLE DISEASE IN SOME SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AREAS OF PLATEAU STATE NIGERIA

*1
Musa, U.,
2
Abdu, P.A.,
3
Dafwang, I.I.,
4
Katsayal, U.A.,
1
Edache, J .A. and
1
Karsin, P.D.

1
National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria
2
Verinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
3
National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
4
Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

*Author for Correspondence: usmanmusagulma@yahoo.com, 234-803-453-7443

ABSTRACT
Newcastle Disease (ND) has been recognized for a long time as one of the major production constraints to rural poultry.
Knowledge of disease control in rural poultry sector have been suggested as the best way to improve the economic status
of the communities engaged in poultry farming and guarantee the supply of animal protein to the populace. A Studies on
remedies adopted by rural chicken farmers in management of ND in rural chickens was conducted in 32 villages
involving 1, 240 households in four Local Government Areas (LGA) of Plateau State, Nigeria. The results indicated that
majority of the rural chicken farmers (53.2 %) used ethnoveterinary medicines for the management of chickens suffering
from ND, 25.1 % used bark and root of mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) and 20.3 % used wild garden egg (Solanum
nodiflorum) and 7.8 % bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina). Whereas 29.4 % of the rural chicken farmers sought for
modern veterinary services. However, 17.4 % of the farmers were reluctant to reveal the type of remedies they used
when their chickens were suffering from ND. It was concluded that ethnoveterinary remedies have been found to be
widely used by rural chicken farmers in Plateau State.

Key words: Ethnoveterinary, Newcastle disease, rural chickens, Plateau State, Nigeria.


INTRODUCTION
Most of the developing countries including
Nigeria rely wholly or partly on traditional
herbal medicine for treatment and control of
animal and human diseases (Sofowora, 1993).
In Nigeria, traditional veterinary practices
play important roles in many areas (Kudi and
Myint, 1999). Rural poultry farmers are aware
of the need to keep birds in good health and
when they are sick to source for prescription
and procure medicaments for treating rural
poultry diseases. They often do so through
various means and the use of traditional
(indigenous) method of medicare seems to be
the main method of treatment. The use of
traditional medicine may be due to its low
cost, availability and ease of application
compare to modern veterinary medicine. The
unavailability and cost of veterinary drugs in
most pharmaceutical shops and local markets
will have contributed to low patronage by
farmers in sourcing drugs for treatment of sick
chickens. A study by Mapiye and Sibanda
(2005) has shown that large flock sizes were
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obtained by farmers that gave traditional
medicine to their chickens and indicates that
traditional medicines in some instances have
potential to improve the health status of rural
household flocks. Hence, there is a need for
researchers to take inventory of common
medicaments used by local farmers in treating
rural household chickens and determine their
chemical properties, concentrations and routes
of application. There has been very little
research conducted on medicinal plants used
for ND control although their use is
widespread in the treatment of other livestock
diseases. The aim of this study was to
determine the ethnoveterinary remedies used
by rural farmers for the management of ND in
Plateau State, Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Areas
The study covered four Local Government
Areas (LGAs), J os South and Barkin Ladi in
the Northern part of the State and Kanam and
Shendam in the Southern part. Eight villages
were selected from each LGA using a
multistage random sampling procedure. From
these villages a total of 1, 240 households
were selected, visited and questionnaires were
administered.

Data Collection
The study was conducted from J anuary, 2006
to J une, 2007. A total of 1, 240 structured
questionnaires were administered, out of
which 865 (70 %) were retrieved. The farmers
were interviewed in their homes for their
convenience with the assistance of field
guides. Information on household
demography, awareness of ND, source of
prescription, type of remedies used and
method of preparation were collected.

Data Analysis
The data obtained were tabulated and reduced
into percentages.

RESULTS
The major medicaments used by the rural
chicken farmers for the treatment of rural
chickens against ND are listed in Table 1. The
respondents that revealed the type of
medicaments used on the other hand
mentioned mahogany (Khaya senegalensis)
bark/roots (25.1%), wild garden egg (Solanum
nodiflorum) (20.3%), bitter leaf (Vernonia
amygdalina) (7.8%) and pepper (Capsicum
frutescens), as the main sources of remedies.
It was also revealed that 7 (2 %) of the
respondent employed the use white maggi
(Monosodium glutamate), which they usually
soak in water and administer to chickens
orally for the treatment of ND. The results
also revealed that about 50.16% of the farmers
obtained their prescription and medicaments
for the treatment of chickens sick of ND from
ethnoveterinary source (traditional), 29.40%
from modern veterinary services, 9.74 % from
pharmaceutical shops and 10.71% from
shops/markets (Table 2). However, about
17.7% of the farmers were reluctant to reveal
the types of remedies adopted for their
chickens when infected with ND.



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Table 1: Medicaments used by farmers to treat Newcastle disease in four Local government Areas of Plateau State

Local Govt. Area Medicament Botanical name Local name Preparation Frequency %
J os South


(i) Wild garden
egg.

Solanum nodiflorum


Gautan
kaji (H)

Cut into two halves
and soaked in water

45

12.2
(ii) Mahogany
bark

Khaya senegalensis

Madaci (H) Soak in water 38 10.3
(iii) Bitter leaf Vernonia amygdalina Shiwaka (H)

Soak the bark in
water
20 5.4
(iv) Hairy thorn apple

Datura metel Zakami/Haukata yaro
(H)

Soak in water 5 1.4
Not indicated Not applicable

Not applicable Not applicable 65 17.7
Barkin Ladi (i) wild garden egg Solanum nodiflorum

Gautan kaji (H) Soak in water

16 4.3
(ii) Ground Pepper Capsicum spp. Yaji(H)

Soak in water 6 1.6
(iii) Not indicated

Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable 48 13.04
Kanam (i)Mahogany bark/roots

Khaya senegalensis Madaci (H)

Soaked in water 30 8.2
(ii) Herbs un specified Not applicable Not applicable not applicable 27 7.3
Shendam (i) Mahogany bark Khaya senegalensis Madachi (H)

Soak in water 28 7.6
(ii) Wild garden egg

Solanum nodiflorum Gautan kaji (H)

Soak in water 14 3.8
(iii) Bitter leaf Vernonia amygdalina Shiwaka (H) Soak in water 9 2.4
(iv) Zakami Datura metel Zakami/Haukata yaro
(H)
Soak in water 10 2.7
(v) White magi Monosodium glutamate Magi (H) Soak in water 7 2.0
Total 368 100
Key: H =in Hausa Language
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Table 2: Major sources of prescription and procurement of medicaments for
treating rural chickens suffering from Newcastle disease in Plateau State

Local Government Area
Source of
treatment
J os
South
Barkin
Ladi
Kanam Shendam Total
Veterinary
services
Frequency 46(7.47) 28(4.55) 53(8.60) 54(8.77) 181(29.40)

Ethnoveterinary Frequency 88(14.29) 63(10.23) 65(10.55) 93(15.10) 309(50.16)

Pharmacy Frequency 5(0.81) 5(0.81) 48(7.8) 2(0.32) 60(9.74)

Shops/market Frequency 2(0.32) 39(6.33) 25(4.06) 0(0) 66(10.71)

Total Frequency 141(23) 135(22) 191(31) 149(24) 616(100)



DISCUSSION
The result revealed that farmers in all the four
LGAs are aware of ND and use
ethnoveterinary remedies for its management.
In Nigeria, studies have shown that ND is the
endemic in both rural and commercial poultry
with epidemic outbreaks being recorded in
highly susceptible flocks (Saidu et al., 2006).
Further more, as observed in this study
mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) bark/roots,
soaked in water was most popular medicament
used in J os South, Kanam and Shendam LGAs
followed by wild garden egg (Solanum
nodiflorum) and bitter leaf (Vernonia
amygdalina) leaves, pepper (Capsicum
frutescens), were the main remedies used in
the management of the rural chicken suffering
from ND. Traditional remedies are reported to
be much easily and readily obtained and
affordable (Abdu et al., 2000). Some of the
plants mentioned in this study contain
chemicals that may explain their
ethnoveterinary use. For instance, some of the
plants influence the immune system or are
effective against internal and external
parasites (Abdu and Faya, 2000).
Antihelminthic and antiprotozoan properties
of Khaya senegalensis, Vernonia amygdalina


and Solanum nodiflorum have been reported
by Abdu and Faya (2000), Nwude and
Ibrahim, (1980) and Atawodi et al. (2000).
Though, the practice of sourcing for
medicament through the use of traditional
method of medicare is the most popular
method adopted by rural farmers for treatment
of birds it may not be sufficient enough to
ensure a good health of the birds due to poor
knowledge and understanding of the etiology
and pathology of poultry disease by the
farmers. Hence, they may succeed in treating
the observable symptoms of the disease
without dealing with the actual cause.
Dosages were imprecise as most of the
remedies are soaked in water without the
regard on quantity of the remedy or volume of
water used. This may expose the birds to
dangers of over or under dosing and may lead
to kidney or liver damage. These remedies
used by rural farmers in the study areas may
or may not have direct effect on ND virus but
could affect protozoan and helminth parasites
of rural poultry by reducing the parasites
burden, and boosting the immunity of the
birds against infection. As a result, extension
services are required in educating rural
farmers in matters relating to the use
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appropriate medicaments and adopting new
technologies for improving rural household
chicken production and disease control.
Alders and Spradbrow (2001) have
recommended extension services and
community participation for the successful
adoption of the oral feed vaccine for the
control of ND in rural areas.

CONCLUSION
It was concluded that ethnoveterinary
remedies are widely used by rural folks for
management of ND in the four LGAs of
Plateau State and there is need to evaluate
their efficacy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are grateful to the Dr (Mrs.) L. H.
Lombin, Executive Director, NVRI, Vom for
providing the facilities used for this research
and the Zonal Programme Managers (Central
and Northern Zones) of Plateau Agricultural
Development Agency for providing field staff
and Mr. David Sabo for typing the
manuscript.

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