Resumen:
Coccidiosis is one of the most common
ailments in rabbits farming and is usually
treated with drugs that can produce resistance;
therefore, a natural alternative was sought. The
objective of the current study was to evaluate
the efficacy of the aqueous extract of curcumin
(Curcuma longa) on the excretion of oocysts of
Eimeria spp. in New Zealand white rabbits.
Twenty-four eight-month-old rabbits were
divided into four groups of six animals to be C.
longa extract administered at 0 (Control), 10,
25 or 40 mg/kg body weight (BW). Rabbit
weights were recorded and faeces samples were
collected on d 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. The
McMaster technique was used for quantifying
Eimeria spp. oocysts. Results were analysed
using multivariate analysis of variance for
repeated observations. Statistically significant
differences (P<0.05) from d 28 were observed
among the Control, the group of 25 mg/kg BW
and that of 40 mg/kg BW. At d 42, statistically
difference (P<0.05) among the Control group
and the other three groups was observed. It
could be concluded that C. longa decreased
Eimeria spp. oocysts excretion efficiently at a
dose of 40 mg/kg BW with 80.1, 63.7 and 64.9%
for d 28, 35 and 42, respectively, with reducing
concentration of eggs per gram of faeces with
about 20.1, 15.6 and 17.8 for d 14, 21 and 35,
respectively. However, further studies are
needed to assess and confirm the antiparasitic
activity of C. longa.