DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sajp.2026.v15i04.003

Pages: 86-92

Avian colibacillosis is an infection that leads to high morbidity and mortality, resulting in considerable economic losses in poultry farming. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an aqueous extract of Vitex doniana on experimentally induced colibacillosis in broiler chicks. Eighty (80) one-day-old chicks were divided into 4 groups (n = 20/group) and fed identically for 28 days. Chicks in group 1 received only conventional feed. Chicks in groups 2, 3, and 4 received a single 0.3 ml dose of E. coli culture (1 x 10⁹ CFU/ml) orally. After infection, chicks in group 3 received aqueous extract of V. doniana (5 mg/kg bw) orally for 14 days, while those in group 4 received leofloxacin (the reference antibiotic) at a dose of 1 mg/10 kg bw orally for 7 days. During the experiment, the behavior, clinical signs, and mortality of the chicks in each group were recorded. On days D0, D7, D14, and D28 of the experiment, blood samples were collected from chicks for hematological and biochemical analysis. The results showed that the aqueous extract of V. doniana resulted in an improvement in clinical signs in infected chicks and a reduction in their mortality compared to group 2. Furthermore, the extract of this plant had a more beneficial effect on the hematological and biochemical parameters evaluated compared to leofloxacin. This plant could be used as a veterinary product to control avian colibacillosis.