The effect of grower feed diet supplemented with Ganoderma lucidum against some enteric zoonotic parasites of pigeons (Columba livia)

Abstract

v>We report a preliminary study on the effect of grower feed diet supplemented with mashed Ganoderma lucidumagainst some enteric zoonotic parasites of wild rock pigeons (Columba livia) in Benin City, Nigeria. The pigeons were fed adlibitum with supplemented and non-supplemented grower feed diet in sawdust-floored squared wooden cages (45 cm x 30 cm x20 cm) at room temperature for 21 days. They were sacrificed at days 14 and 21 for profiling of their zoonotic enteric parasites.High prevalence (77.7%) of Cestodes (tapeworms) and low prevalence (12.3%) of nematodes were recorded in the control pigeonfed non-supplemented grower feed compared to those on diet supplemented with Ganoderma. Cestodes (Helminths) such asHymenolepsis carioca, Amoebataenia cuneata, Raillietina tetragona, Raillietina serrata, Inermicapsifer spp., Hymenolepsis spp.,and a species of nematode (Ascaridia columbae) were identified in the gastrointestinal tract of the experimental pigeons. A fewspecies (< 8 %) of Trematodes yet to be fully identified were also observed. The low population of helminth parasites and overallweight decrease of pigeon fed with diet supplemented with Ganderma lucidum recorded during the study suggest improvedremoval of digestive microbes, intestinal health, and gastrointestinal motility. These findings were aimed at contributing to thealready existing knowledge on the use of feed additives, probiotics and supplementations in poultry farming.