In this study, biochemical and haematological effects of kaempferol in stress induced by experimental Eimeria tenella infection in two weeks old broiler chickens was investigated. Sixty-day old broilers were randomly allotted into six groups (I-VI) of ten broilers each and brooded for two weeks with commercial broiler feed (vital feed®) and provided water ad libitum. At two weeks of age broilers in group I served as non-infected control. Broilers in groups II- VI were infected with Eimeria tenella sporulated oocyst (104/ml) via oral inoculation. After infection was established, broilers in groups II-IV were treated per os with 1 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg of kaempferol respectively. Broilers in group V were treated for five days with amprolium, 1.25 g/L in drinking water. Broilers in group VI served as infected untreated control. Five days post infection; all broilers were sacrificed by severing their jugular veins. Blood sample was collected from each broiler in a plane sample container devoid of anticoagulant so as to harvest serum for serology while Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) bottles were used to collect 1 ml of blood from each bird for haematology. Concentrations of antioxidant (GPx, CAT and SOD) and liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP) were determined. Data obtained was analyzed using pad prism version 5.0. There were statistically significant (P<0.05) reductions in the mean values of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) in groups II, III and IV in a dose dependent manner when compared to group VI. Similarly, the mean values of antioxidant (GPx, CAT and SOD) enzymes increased significantly significant (P<0.05) in groups II, III and IV in a dose dependent manner when compared to group VI. No significant (P>0.05) difference in the mean values of antioxidants and liver enzymes were recorded between groups II, III and IV and when compared to group V. Mean Packed Cell Volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and Red Blood Cell (RBC) count significantly (P<0.05) increased in groups II, III, and IV in a dose dependent manner. Similarly, PCV, Hb concentration and RBC count were significantly (P<0.05) increased in groups II, III, and IV when compared with VI. No significant (P>0.05) difference in the mean values of PCV, Hb and RBC were recorded in groups treated with kaempferol and group treated with amprolium. It was observed in this study that kaempferol improved the serum level of antioxidants and liver enzymes as well as and haematological parameters and also reduced the level of pathology in the caecum of broilers infected with Eimeria tenella in this study.
Effect of a mixture of herbal extracts on broiler chickens infected with Eimeria tenella