Improving the reproduction and gonadosomatic index of Archachatina marginata using a medicinal plant (Thymus vulgaris) in the Equatorial Zone of Cameroon

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the reproduction and gonadosomatic index of Archachatina marginata fed with a medicinal plant (Thymus vulgaris). Three hundred adult snails were randomly allocated to four treatments and five replicates of 15 comparable snails. Treatment T0 (control) received only the basal diet. The other treatments (T0.25, T0.5, and T0.75) received, in addition to the basal diet, Thymus vulgaris powder at 0.25%, 0.5% and 0.75%, respectively. The results showed the lowest egg weight (1.33 0.66) in animals receiving 0.5% Thymus vulgaris in the diet compared to the other treatments, while the lowest egg length (14.68 1.14) was recorded in the control group. The number of clutches per treatment was lowest (16.25 0.00) in animals that received 0.5% Thymus vulgaris in the diet compared to the control group and other treatments. The hatching and fertilization rates increased with the share of Thymus vulgaris in the diet, while the reverse was observed for the mortality rate. The highest gonadosomatic index (0.020.00) was recorded in animals receiving the highest level of Thymus vulgaris (T0.75), followed by animals in the control group (T0). Total protein and triglycerides increased significantly (p <0.05) with increasing Thymus vulgaris. In contrast, total cholesterol decreased significantly (p <0.05) as the level of Thymus vulgaris in the diet was increased. In conclusion, Thymus vulgaris at 0.75% can be used in the diet of breeding snails.

Keywords

• Archachatina marginata
• gonadosomatic index
• Thymus vulgaris
• Cameroon