Prevalence of microflora in trachea of NDV challenged broiler following supplementation with extracts of Aloe vera, Alma millsoni, Archachantina marginata and Ganoderma lucidum

An attempt was made to enumerate the micro-flora in trachea of broiler chickens challenged with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) following supplementation with different extracts of local sources. After 30 days of treatment with extracts of Aloe vera (AV), Alma millsoni (ALM), Archachatina marginata (AM) and G. lucidium (GL) ad libitum as supplement to various groups they were challenged with intramuscular administration of 0.2 ml of 106 ELD50 of NDV. Following clinical signs and symptoms in the birds, trachea swab samples were collected and cultured. Of the 95 swabs, 65 (68.4%) yielded mixed growth of bacteria spp. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.1%), Enterococcus feacalis (23.1%) and Staphylococcus spp. (23.1%), coliform bacteria (30.8%). Only 9 (13.9%) of the total population isolated resisted either cerofloxacin or genticin. There was no statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in the occurrences of bacteria in trachea of chickens supplemented with different concentration of extracts, both challenged with NDV and unchallenged groups. These organisms may not be pathogenic to the birds as there were no signs of bacterial infection on the trachea. Though, 86.1% of the isolates were sensitive to test drugs, evolution of strains resistant to common antibiotics by some of these bacteria could be of public health risk to handlers and the community. Thus, domestic birds keeping and poultry sited in close proximity to human dwellings should be outlawed. Key words: Bacteria, Bacteria isolation, Broilers, Resistance