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Background: Coccidioses are the major parasitic diseases in poultry and other domestic animals including the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo anticoccidial and antioxidant activities of Psidium guajava methanol extract.

Materials and Methods: A total of 48 domestic rabbits (60 days old and about 1.5-2 kg body weight) and free from coccidia infection were used. All groups except group 6 were infected with 1000 sporulated Eimeria intestinalis oocysts. Faecal samples were collected and examined starting on day one post-inoculation until Day 9 post-inoculation, during which oocysts appeared in faeces. For quantitative analysis or determination of the number of oocysts per gram (OPG) of faeces, the Mc Master technique was used. Serum was used for determination of biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress such as Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and Glutathione using standardized diagnostic kits and a spectrophotometer.

Results: The present study revealed that Psidium guajava has significant in vivo anticoccidial and antioxidant activities and can thus be used to protect tissue from oxidative stress. Oocyst counts in the group treated with 2% DMSO increased continuously from the initial count on Day 0 as opposed to treated groups. The highest oocyst count reduction rate was 95% in the group which received the standard anti-coccidial drug. Among the groups that received the plant extract, the highest oocyst reduction rate was 79.6% at a dose of 500 mg/kg and reduced in a dose-dependent manner to 66.1% (250 mg/kg) and then 56.2% (125 mg/kg). The result therefore showed a significant decrease in tissues and serum catalase and peroxidase, and a significant increase in NO, MDA and GLU levels in negative control animals. Treatment resulted in a significant normalization of the levels of the above markers when compared with the neutral control group.

Conclusion: These results therefore provide confirmation to the usage of Psidium guajava against coccidioses by Agropastoral farmers in Cameroon.