Evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of Aloe rabaiensis leaf against Salmonella gallinarum challenged in Kuroiler chicks in Arusha, Tanzania

Abstract

Salmonella gallinarum, a bacterium causing fowl typhoid in gallinaceous birds, poses significant economic challenges to the chicken industry in Tanzania. This study investigated the potential of Aloe rabaiensis in managing S. gallinarum in Kuroiler chicks. The clinical signs, viable cell count, live weight, heterophils, lymphocytes, and monocyte counts were evaluated using ninety-four chicks grouped into T1, T2, T3 (challenged with S. gallinarum), and T4 (unchallenged with S. gallinarum). The findings revealed no statistically significant differences between the treated and control groups (P > 0.05) in viable cell count, live weight, mortality rate, heterophils, lymphocytes, and monocyte counts. However, there were clinical signs of fowl typhoid in the challenged groups (T1, T2, T3). The groups challenged with S. gallinarum and treated with A. rabaiensis (T1, T2) showed reduced susceptibility to the bacteria compared to the control group, T3. The mortality rate for T1 was 14.3% (4, n=28) and T2 17.9% (5, n=28), while the control group T3 was 25% (7, n=28). The lower mortality rates and less severe fowl typhoid symptoms in the Aloe-treated groups were attributed to the antibacterial efficacy of A. rabaiensis leaf against S. gallinarum, offering a promising remedy for the future of poultry health.