Evaluation of therapeutic effects of an herbal mixture (Echinacea purpurea and Glycyrrhiza glabra) for treatment of clinical coccidiosis in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Avian coccidiosis is thought to be one of the most expensive infectious diseases in the poultry industry. OBJECTIVES: Safe and alternative anti-coccidial drugs are herbal extracts because they do not result in tissue residue and drug resistance. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-coccidial effect of the herbal mixture, a complex of two plants (Echinacea purpurea, Glycyrrhiza glabra) in broiler chickens in comparison with toltrazuril. METHODS: One hundred twenty broiler chickens were used in this experiment and divided into 4 equally numbered groups. All the groups, except Group D, were experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria spp. (E. Tenella, E. maxima, E. necatrix and E. brunetti) on day 14. Group A treated with an herbal mixture [Glycyrrhiza glabra Extract 5% (standardised to 5.4% glycyrrhizic acid) and Echinacea purpurea Extract 2% (standardised to 4% total phenolic content based on chlorogenic acid); Coxinin-EC® ; Shamim Teb Sepid Giti]. Group B treated with toltrazuril. Group C was experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria spp. but they did not have any treatment, this group was our positive control. Performance indices, faecal oocyst excretion, and intestinal lesion score were determined during the experiment. RESULTS: Positive control group had the poorest results and more mortality than other groups. Group D was not infected and was healthy all the experiment period. Treatment with herbal complex significantly reduced the negative performance and pathogenic effects associated with Eimeria spp. at a level that was comparable with toltrazuril. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the anti-coccidial activity of the studied herbal complex suggests its use as an alternative anti-coccidial agent to chemotherapeutic drugs for controlling coccidiosis in poultry. HIGHLIGHTS: -Coccidiosis is an important infectious disease that causes serious financial loss to the poultry industry. -Chemical anti-coccidial drugs and vaccines are the main control strategies to combat the disease. However, these tools have some constraints. -Herbal remedies are suitable alternatives to chemical compounds for control of losses associated with coccidiosis in poultry. -An herbal mixture (Echinacea purpurea, Glycyrrhiza glabra) has promising effects for controlling of coccidiosis in broiler chickens.

Eimeria tenella infection perturbs the chicken gut microbiota from the onset of oocyst shedding.

Coccidiosis is a serious threat to the poultry industry, resulting in substantial economic losses worldwide. The effective development of alternative treatments for coccidiosis that does not involve chemotherapy drugs and does not result in antibiotic resistance relies on gaining a clearer understanding of the interaction between host intestinal microbiota and enteric coccidia. Here, we established an Eimeria tenella infection model in chickens and subsequently monitored the changes in the overall intestinal microbiome using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We found that the gut (i.e. fecal) microbiota of infected chicken differed from that of uninfected naïve animals. Levels of non-pathogenic bacteria, including Lactobacillus and Faecalibacterium declined, whereas those of pathogenic bacteria, including Clostridium, Lysinibacillus, and Escherichia, increased over time in response to E. tenella infection. Similar dynamic changes of the fecal microbiota were observed in both Arbor Acres broilers and White Leghorn chickens, indicating that the perturbation of the microbiota was directly induced by E. tenella infection. Our findings could be used to further elucidate the serious damage to host health caused by coccidia infection, leading to the development of new effective treatment options for coccidiosis.

Impact of coccidiosis control program and feeding plan on white striping prevalence and severity degree on broiler breast fillets evaluated at three growing ages.

This study investigated the impact of 2 coccidiosis control systems (vaccine vs anticoccidial) and 2 feeding plans (standard energy vs low energy content, the latter supplemented with threonine and enzymes in the second half of the production cycle) on white striping (WS) prevalence and severity in chicken broiler breasts at commercial slaughter age (51 d). The age of lesion onset was also investigated with the sacrifice of 80 chicks at 12, and 80 chicks at 25 d of age. Seven hundred and twenty ROSS 708 strain male chicks were divided into 4 groups: a non-vaccinated group fed with standard diet (CONTROL); two groups vaccinated against coccidiosis but fed either a standard diet (VACC) or a low-energy diet supplemented with threonine and enzymes (VACC-LE plus); and a fourth group fed a standard diet containing anticoccidial additive except during the finishing period (COX). After live performance, yields, and fillet pH were measured, the breasts were weighed and scored as level 0 (no WS), level 1 (moderate WS), and level 2 (severe WS) at each of the 3 ages; data were covariate for slaughter weight. The results suggest an ameliorative effect of coccidiosis control systems when compared to the control group in terms of live weight, breast yield, and whole breast weight, with heavier fillets characterized by higher pH values. WS appeared at 25 d of age with an average prevalence of 11.5% and with lesions of moderate severity. There were no statistically significant differences due to the experimental treatment at this age. At commercial slaughter age, total average prevalence was 96%, with COX birds showing higher level 2 prevalence (77.6%). This could be related to the higher slaughter weight reached by the COX group (P<0.001) and the treatment effect (P<0.01) that probably adds to the effect of live weight. Diet had no effect on overall live performance of VACC-LE plus chickens, which were similar to those of the VACC group.

Utilización de bolos ruminales de liberación de sulfametazina sódica en el control de la coccidiosis ovina / The use of sodium sulfamethazine sustained-release ruminal bolus in the control of ovine coccidiosis / Utilização de bolos ruminais de liberação de sulfametazina sódica para ocontrole de coccidiose ovina

Se evaluó el efecto de bolos intrarruminales de liberación de sulfametazina sódica en el control de la coccidiosis ovina. Se utilizaron 60 corderos machos y hembras en dos sistemas de alimentación: pastoreo intensivo con encierro nocturno en corral y engorda en corral con granos. Los animales se dividieron en 4 grupos: Corral-Bolo (CB, n=20); Corral-Sin Bolo (CSB, n=l0); Pastoreo-Bolo (PB, n=20) y Pastoreo-Sin Bolo (PSB, n= 10). Se evaluó quincenalmente el efecto del tratamiento sobre la ganancia promedio de peso (GP), la eliminación de ooquistes y se identificaron las especies de Eimeria involucradas. No se demostraron diferencias en la GP entre los animales de los grupos PB= 0.32kg y PSB= 0.2kg (p< 0.65) y sí en los grupos CB= 3.3lkg y CSB= 4.28kg (P<0.02). La eliminación de ooquistes fue menor en los grupos que recibieron el bolo: CB:428 y PB:844 ooq./g que en los grupos CSB:2l69 y PSB:1533 ooq./g heces (P<0.009), lo que indica que el bolo logró controlar la parasitosis. Las especies de Eimeria presentes en los animales de corral fueron: E. ovina 30%, E. ovinoidalis 24%, E. granulosa 16% y E. parva 15%, otras especies 7%. En los animales en pastoreo E. ovinoidalis 28%, E. ovina 22%, E. granulosa 15% y E. parva 10%, otras especies 8%. Al final del experimento se presentaron diferencias relativas en las especies identificadas en los diferentes grupos, indicando que la condición de alimentación y el tratamiento con el bolo afectó cuantitativamente la parasitosis y la proporción de las especies involucradas

ABSTRACT: The effect of the sodium intraruminal bolus of sulphamethazine release was evaluated in the control of ovine coccidiosis. Sixty Columbia breed lambs, males and females, were employed in two feed condition systems: intensive grazing withnight coffi n and grain fattening yard system. The animals were divided in four groups: grain yard with bolus (CB, n=20); grain yard without bolus (CSB, n=10); grazing with bolus (PB, n=20) and grazing without bolus (PSB, n=10). Lambs were weighed and fecal samples were taken at the beginning of the experiment and four times afterward fortnightly. Body weight gain (BWG) and oocysts elimination were measured in treated and control animals and Eimeria species were characterized. BWG differences were demonstrated between CB= 3.31kg and CSB= 4.28kg groups (P<0.02); no differences occurred between grazing groups PB=0.32kg and PSB=0.2kg (p<0.65). Oocysts elimination was minor in bolus treated animals in the two conditions, CB:428and PB:844 ooq./g against CSB:2169 and PSB:1533 ooq./g feces (P<0.009), indicating a benefi cial effect of bolus treatment over parasitoids. Eimeriaspecies identifi ed before the treatment in yard lambs were: E. ovina 30%, E. ovinoidalis 24%, E. granulosa 16% and E. parva 15%, other species 7%. In grazing animals were: E. ovinoidalis 28%, E. ovina 22%, E. granulosa 15% and E. parva 10%, other species 8%. At the end of the experiment changes in these relatives proportion were observed suggesting that alimentation conditions and treatment modify quantitatively and qualitatively the parasite.

RESUMO: Avaliou-se o efeito de bolos intrarruminais de liberação de sulfametazina sódica no controle de coccidiose ovina. Foram utilizados 60 cordeiros machos e fêmeas em dois sistemas de alimentação: pastoreio intensivo diurno com recolhimento noturno em aprisco e engorda em confi namento, com grãos. Os animais foram divididos em quatro grupos: Confi namento-Bolo (CB, n=20); Confi namento-Sem Bolo (CSB, n=10); Pastoreio-Bolo (PB, n=20) e Pastoreio-Sem Bolo (PSB, n=10). Avaliou-se quinzenalmente o efeito do tratamento sobre o ganho médio de peso (GP), a eliminação de oocistos e identifaram-se as espécies de Eimeria envolvidas. Não se demostraram diferenças no GP entre os animais dos grupos PB= 0,32kg e PSB= 0,2kg (p< 0,65), e sim nos grupos CB= 3,31kg e CSB= 4,28kg (P<0,02). A eliminação de oocistos foi menor nos grupos que receberam o bolo: CB: 428e PB:844 ooc/g que nos grupos CSB:2169 e PSB:1533 ooq/g de fezes (p<0,009), indicando que o bolo controlou a parasitose. As espécies de Eimeria presentes nos animais confi nados foram: E. ovina 30%, E. ovinoidalis 24%, E. granulosa 16% e E. parva 15%, outras espécies 7%. Nos animais em pastoreio E. ovinoidalis 28%, E. ovina 22%, E. granulosa 15% e E. parva 10%, outras espécies 8%. Ao fi nal do experimento, observaram-se diferenças relativas nas espécies identifi cadas nos diferentes grupos, indicando que a condição de alimentação e o tratamento com o bolo afetou quantitativamente a parasitose e a proporção de espécies envolvidas