Efficiency of Carica papaya L. Seeds in Anticoccidial Control for Cockerel of Lohmann Brown Strain

To combat avian coccidiosis, chemical products are widely used in poultry farming. However, chemotherapy has inconveniences due to the bioresistance of Coccidia and the presence of undesirable residues in consumer products. The aim of this study is to investigate the toxicity of papaya seeds as a bio-insecticide against Coccidia in Lohmann brown chickens in order to improve their zootechnical parameters. Experimentally, 260 cockerels were divided into five groups among which three experimental groups, marked EX1-3, were treated per month with 5% of the papaya seed powder incorporated in the cockerel feed for two, three, and four consecutive days, respectively. The 4^th group T- which received no treatment, served as a negative control group; while the 5^th group T+ was treated once with 20% Amprolium, introduced in the drinking water of the cockerels, served as a positive control group. The one-way ANOVA test was applied to discriminate the mean values calculated statistically, at the 5% probability threshold. The results of laparoscopic analyses, after 15-23 weeks of age, revealed a reduction in the average number of eggs per gram with rates of 66.77; 58.15, and 43.43%, respectively in groups EX1-3. Phytochemical tests carried out on the hydroethanolic extracts (50-50%: v/v) confirmed the presence of biomolecules such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, reducing compounds, and proteins in the seeds. The anticoccidial activity revealed in this study would therefore be justified by the presence of the suspected biomolecules in the seeds by the phytochemical tests. Monthly treatment of two consecutive days with 5% papaya seed powder incorporated in the feed is effective in the fight against cockerel Coccidia. This study shows that papaya seed is an interesting natural alternative to synthetic chemical products in the fight against coccidiosis.