Phytochemcial Assessment of Persea americana Powdered Leaves and Its Potency in Protecting Clarias gariepinus against Klebsiella pneumonia

The phytochemcial content of P. americana powdered leaves was assessed using ethanol extracts. The potency of the powdered leaves was assessed by exposing C. gariepinus fed different levels of the dietary powdered leaves (Do: 0% leaves inclusion; D1: 3% leaves inclusion; D2: 6% leaves inclusion; D3: 9% leaves inclusion and D4: 12% leaves inclusion diets) for eight weeks to K. pneumonia via intrapretoneal injection. The fish were injected after the 8 weeks feeding at day 1, 7, 14 and 21. The haematological parameters and microbial load (antibacterial activities) of the infected fish organs were assessed 28 days after the first injection. The ethanol extracts of the P. americana leaves powder revealed the following phytochemicals: phenol, carotenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponin, steroids, coumarine and proanthocyanidin in varying quantities. The haematological parameters in the infected fish compared to the control Do indicated that there were improved Pack cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb) and Red blood cells (RBC) in fish fed D2-D4 compared to the fish fed Do (control). The white blood cells (WBC), the lymphocytes, Monocytes and Eosinophils were higher (P>0.05) in the fish fed Do compared to the fish fed D1-D4. The Red blood indices (MCH, MCHC and MCV) fluctuated in values across the diets, but were higher in fish fed D1. The microbial load was higher (P<0.05) in the organs (Kidney, spleen, liver and blood) of the fish fed Do compared to the rest, and the effect was dose dependent. The results showed that P. americana powdered leaves improved the haematological and antibacterial activities of the experimental fish.