Evaluating the efficacy of pawpaw (carica papaya) seed extract as a dewormer in the treatment of helminth in pigs in Nyero town council Kumi district.
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) present a serious threat to productivity in smallholder farming systems with pigs, and synthetic anthelmintics present other production problems associated with price, development of resistance, or residue issues. This study assessed the anthelmintic efficacy of Carica papaya (pawpaw) seed extract as a natural dewormer in pigs in Nyero Town Council, Uganda. Eight naturally infected pigs were randomly allocated into one of four groups: placebo, albendazole (10 mg/kg), a low dose of pawpaw seed extract (250 mg/kg), or a high dose of pawpaw seed extract (500 mg/kg). Fecal egg counts (FEC), weight gain, and clinical signs were monitored daily for 14 days post-treatment. Fecal egg count reductions were 95% for albendazole, 82% for high-dose pawpaw seed extract, and 65% for low-dose pawpaw seed extract. Pigs treated with pawpaw seed extracts also gained weight and showed overall clinical improvements in health compared to the placebo group, and observed changes were dose-dependent. In conclusion, these results indicate that pawpaw seed extract is a potentially cost-effective alternative to synthetic anthelmintics for resource-limited farmers. Next steps would be conducting larger practical field tests to confirm the use of pawpaw seed extracts as a sustainable deworming strategy against nematode parasites in pig management system.
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Undergraduate research report
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Akurut, I. J. (2026). Evaluating the efficacy of pawpaw (carica papaya) seed extract as a dewormer in the treatment of helminth in pigs in Nyero town council Kumi district. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.