In vivo-Study of Antiviral Effect of Gossypium hirsutum Extract on Newcastle Disease Virus

Gossypium hirsutum belongs to the family Malvaceae and genus Gossypium, the name of the genus is derived from the Arabic word goz, which refers to a soft substance. This plant occupies a very important position in traditional medicine because of its ethnomedicinal value. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antiviral effect of Gossypium hirsutum extract on Newcastle disease virus. The experimental design involved the use of 59 birds (broiler). The phase involved pre-infection, infection and post-infection. Clinical signs of dyspnea, gasping, greenish diarrhea and paralysis were observed. There was mortality from day 4 in both treated and untreated groups. Gross pathological lesion of both treated and untreated groups were similar and this includes catarrhal haemorrhagic lesion, muscular haemorrhages and congestion of the kidneys, duodenum and small intestine. Also, there was congestion of lungs, liver and necrotic granules in the gland. At histology in the treated group the proventriculus, duodenum, and trachea were normal. Rectal temperature of infected and un-infected birds ranged from 41.75 0.12°C to 42.35 0.44°C, while that of treated birds did not vary significantly with treatment regimen (p>0.05) and ranged from 40.5 0.5°C on day one post infection to 42.40 0.07°C on day 3. It was observed that both treated and untreated group was eventually overwhelmed by the NDV despite the relatively low effect of the extract. There was no significant antiviral effect of G. hirsutum extract on Newcastle disease virus, since all the birds died.