Antiparasitic Efficacy of Papaya (Carica papaya) Seed Powder on Gastrointestinal Strongyles of Djallonke Sheep of Southern Benin

Abstract

The antiparasitic efficacy of papaya (Carica papaya) seeds was tested on gastrointestinal strongyles. In this study, 80 sheep were divided into five groups of 16 animals (ten ewes and six lambs each) as follows: an untreated control group, a control group treated with albendazole at the dose of 5 mg/kg, and three groups that were given sun-dried or oven-dried papaya seed powder at the doses of 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg of live weight. The gastrointestinal strongyle infestation rates varied in relation to time and between groups. The efficacy rate of papaya seeds on strongyles was highest (over 80%) ten days after treatment at the dose of 200 mg/kg of live weight. The packed cell volume remained stable in all animals treated with albendazole or papaya seeds. Oven-dried seeds performed better that sun-dried seeds and seemed to protect sheep from the anemial effects of nematodes.