A. A. Biu*

This study on chronic toxicity of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf aqueous extract in chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) involved daily intraperitoneal administration of graded doses: 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg of the extract for a period of 18 days. Clinical symptoms of ruffled feathers, weakness, anorexia, depression, and dyspnoea were observed at 20 minutes post exposure extract-dose dependent, and death intervened on day 6 post exposure.

Acute toxicity of Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf aqueous extract was tested on chickens; and the median lethal dose (LD50) was calculated. Both clinical signs, gross lesion and microscopic lesions at post mortem were recorded.

A total of 250 cattle claughtered at Maiduguri abattoir were examined, random sampling to ascertain the rate and level of meat condemnation due to fascioliasis, hydatidosis and cysticercosis. 202 (80.8%) of the cattle examined were confirmed positive for infection. Data on estimated losses in Naira equivalent and condemnation in weight (kg) showed that fascioliasis had 539.41kg, hydatidosis, 268.0kg and cysticercosis 483.19kg with an estimated economic value of N188, 804, N93, 800 and N169, 116 for fascioliasis, hydatidosis and cycticercosis respectively.