In Vitro Anthelmintic Efficacy of Acacia nilotica Pods on Eggs and Adult Worms of Haemonchus contortus.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic efficacy of aqueous and acetone extracts of pods of Acacia nilotica on the eggs and adult worms of Haemonchus contortus. Eggs and worms were exposed to five increasing concentrations of Acacia nilotica pod extracts (1.25; 2.5; 5.0; 10.0 and 20.0 mg/mL). The results showed dose-dependent ovicidal (p<0.001) and vermicide (p<0.05) activity against H. contortus. For the egg hatch inhibition assay (EHA), the rate of inhibition ranged from 31 to 70% for aqueous extract and from 41 to 81% for acetone extract, while Benzal (positive control) showed the highest inhibition rate of 91%. For adult nematode mortality test (AMT), no mortality was recorded between 0-h and 2-h in any of the treatment groups as well as the two controls. Mortalities were recorded from the 4th and 6th hour of incubation. Concentrations of 10 and 20 mg/mL recorded the highest mortality rate (>80%) after 4-h of incubation. These results suggest that A. nilotica pods can be used in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]