Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Deworming Composition for Chickens

Status of Application: Granted

Brief Description / Features of Technology:

The technology is a composition for an ethnobotanical dewormer for native chickens. The composition makes use of the powder forms of mature seeds of papaya seed (Carica papaya L.) as main ingredient.

Problem Addressed:

The prevalence of internal parasitism in native chickens throughout the tropics and elsewhere, are recognized as a major constraint to livestock production (Giothiori, et aI., 2004). Among the different types of helminths, nematodes are the most prevalent and most harmful. They cause retarded growth (Kochapakdee, et aI., 1995), lowered
30 productivity, mortality (FAO, 1974; Sykes, 1994) and high economic losses.

Nematodes in different species of animals have been reported and most of the parasitic control programs are based upon a combination of chemotherapeutic control, grazing management, dietary management, biological control, vaccination and ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) treatment (FAO, 2002). Internal parasitism can also cause severe diarrhea, and high mortality. Feed and water consumption are depressed resulting to weight loss, development of culls, decreased egg production, and increased mortality (Aiello, 1998).

The rising cost of animal drugs is one of the (livestock) farmer’s biggest problem. Compounding the situation is the remoteness of villagers to towns where they could avail of the services of animal technicians or veterinarians to provide the needed animal health care. Commercial drugs can be difficult to obtain in remote
upland communities.

Advantages

The seeds from papaya contain a unique anthelmintic alkaloid called carpaine that has been shown to be very effective at killing parasitic worms and amoebas. Birds treated with 6g/kg bodyweight of the papaya seed dewormer composition was found to be comparable with the birds treated with commercial dewormer drug.

The traditional practices on animal health care and management could lessen high livestock and poultry production costs through decreased dependence on drugs and biologics.

Utilization of ethnobotanicals available in the locality can reduce the parasitic burden to tolerable level. These
plants contain potential constituents as cheap sources of anthelmintics to complement the commercially manufactured parasitic drugs against internal parasitism.

Market Potential / Application

Utilization of ethnobotanicals available in the locality can reduce the parasitic burden to tolerable level. These
plants contain potential constituents as cheap sources of anthelmintics to complement the commercially manufactured parasitic drugs against internal parasitism.