Trial treatment of gastrointestinal parasitoses of chikens with aqueous decoctions of papaya (Carica papaya) seeds

Between April and September 1998, a treatment trial using papaya (Carica papaya) seeds was performed on 60 chickens of a local breed in six poultry yards infested by Heterakis sp., Capillaria sp., and Eimeria sp. In each yard, the chickens were divided into three groups of similar infestation rates: a control group (non treated), a group treated with an aqueous decoction of papaya seeds at the rate of 5 g of powdered papaya seeds per liter of water and a group treated at 10 g/l. The posttreatment number of eggs/oocysts per gram of feces always increased in the control group, whereas it decreased in the treated groups infested with Heterakis sp. and Eimeria sp. (40-65% reduction rates). It remained unchanged for Capillaria. These results testify to the therapeutic effects of C. papaya seeds against some gastrointestinal parasites in chickens. These effects can be attributed either to direct parasiticidal action or to the inhibition of egg/oocyst production by parasites.