S-Methylcysteine Ameliorates the Intestinal Damage Induced by Eimeria tenella Infection via Targeting Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Modulators

Avian coccidiosis is one of the major parasitic diseases in the poultry industry. The infection is caused by Eimeria species, and its treatment relies mainly on the administration of anticoccidial drugs, which can result in drug resistance and side effects. The recent trends in avian coccidiosis treatment is directed to the development of a new therapy using herbal compounds. S-Methylcysteine (SMC) is considered one of the organosulfur compounds in garlic that showed promising activity in the treatment of different pathological conditions via a wide range of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. In this study, the anticoccidial activity of SMC was investigated in Eimeria tenella-infected chickens compared to diclazuril as a widely used anticoccidial drug. In this regard, 14-day-old broilers were divided into six groups (n = 18). The first group (G1) was the healthy control group, while the second group (G2) was the non-infected SMC group treated at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. (high dose). Moreover, the third group (G3) was the positive control group (infected and non-treated). The fourth group (G4) was the infected group treated with SMC of 25 mg/kg b.w. (low dose), while the fifth group (G5) was the infected group treated with SMC of 50 mg/kg b.w. (high dose). Conversely, the sixth group (G6) was the diclazuril-treated group. The anticoccidial effects of SMC and diclazuril were evaluated by counting oocysts and recording the body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, clinical signs, lesions, and mortality rate. Interestingly, SMC showed potent anticoccidial activity, which was exemplified by reduction of oocyst count. Furthermore, the biochemical, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory parameters in the cecal tissues were restored toward their control levels in G4, G5, and G6. Histopathological observation of cecal tissues was consistent with the aforementioned results revealing the ameliorative effect of SMC against E. tenella infection. This study concluded novel findings in relation to the anticoccidial role of SMC as a plant-based compound against the E. tenella-induced coccidiosis in broiler chickens combined with its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Further studies for exploring the mechanistic pathways involved in this activity and the potential benefits from its use in association with conventional anticoccidial drugs are warranted.

In Vitro Assessment of Anticoccidials: Methods and Molecules

Avian coccidiosis is a disease causing considerable economic losses in the poultry industry. It is caused by Eimeria spp., protozoan parasites characterized by an exogenous–endogenous lifecycle. In vitro research on these pathogens is very complicated and lacks standardization. This review provides a description of the main in vitro protocols so far assessed focusing on the exogenous phase, with oocyst viability and sporulation assays, and on the endogenous phase, with invasion and developmental assays in cell cultures and in ovo. An overview of these in vitro applications to screen both old and new remedies and to understand the relative mode of action is also discussed.

Brief History and Advancements of Vaccination Against Avian Coccidiosis: A Review

Coccidiosis is a major protozoal disease that severely affects livestock and other animals, especially poultry. Seven species of Eimeria cause avian coccidiosis in poultry and evolve from the epithelial cells of intestine, readily induce illness and cause death to a varying extent. Prophylactic chemotherapy was a dominant choice for the control of coccidiosis but resistance to the drug was a major factor of therapy failure. Protective immunity was produced in chickens with any of Eimeria species as only species-specific immunity can be produced by recently used vaccines. Attenuation can be achieved by the serial passages in all seven Eimeria species. In chicken, the first attempt against coccidiosis caused the introduction of live oocysts, the basis of which led to the discovery of first live attenuated commercial vaccine, Paracox1. As the emerged recombinant vaccines were replaced as a first choice, there is still a dire need to do more work on new techniques like DNA vaccine formulation along with the role of dendritic cells to produce immunity and cross-protection against avian coccidiosis. This article describes step-by-step developments in the vaccination process from the last 70 years along with a brief discussion on novel techniques to induce immunity against coccidiosis.

Anti-Coccidial Effect of Rumex Nervosus Leaf Powder on Broiler Chickens Infected with Eimeria Tenella Oocyst

Coccidiosis a huge economic burden in poultry farms where the pathogen Eimeria harms animal well-being and survival. Besides synthetic anti-coccidial drugs, natural herbs appear to be an alternative way to prevent avian coccidiosis. Rumex nervosus (RN), a phytogenic shrub, has received considerable attention in recent years due to its significant anti-microbial effects; however, limited knowledge exists about its potential anti-coccidial functions. This study was conducted to evaluate the prophylactic and therapeutic activities of RN leaf powder in broilers infected with Eimeria tenella. Infected chickens received a commercial diet containing 1, 3, or 5 g RN powder/kg diet compared to infected broilers that treated with Sacox (PC) or compared to uninfected broilers that received a commercial diet alone (NC). Results showed that RN powder significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the lesion scores and suppressed the output of oocysts per gram (OPG) in chickens’ feces. Although RN was unable to minimize the weight gain loss due to emeriosis, RN at level 1 g improved the feed conversion ratio. Therefore, RN powder, at 5 g, possesses moderate anti-coccidial effects and hence could be used to treat avian coccidiosis in field conditions; however, further studies are required to investigate, in vitro or in vivo, the anti-coccidial potential of active ingredients.

Five years Retrospective Study of Avian Coccidiosis in a Veterinary Clinic Bukuru Plateau State Nigeria

This study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of coccidiosis and its association with various risk factors such as age, type of birds and season in a private veterinary clinic in Bukuru, Plateau State Ngeria. A total of 9406 cases during 2013 – 2017 were analysed and 1556 of them were positive for coccidiosis. Several reports on the prevalence of avian coccidiosis have been documented; however, in this study the prevalence of coccidiosis in the study area and its economic consequences was enumerated. Total prevalence of 12.14% in 2013, 18.78% in 2014, 18.21% in 2015, 16.82% in 2016 and 19.07% in 2017 were reported. An overall prevalence of 85.02% was recorded. The average prevalence of coccidiosis based on this five years study is 17%. The association between coccidiosis and age of the birds was determined and age 5-8 weeks becomes most effective period with wet season having high percentage prevalence of coccidiosis. Based on the type of birds, coccidiosis is prevalence almost in equal proportion in both broilers and layers. The losses associated with coccidiosis both direct and indirect components include the cost of control measures, inadequate good hygiene practices, production losses and lack of prophylaxis treatment. The control of coccidiosis is by good sanitary measures by avoiding water spillage, overcrowding, the use of prophylaxis anticoccidials and proper vaccination.

Anticoccidial Activity of Aloe debrana and Aloe pulcherrima Leaf Gel against Eimeria Oocysts

Avian coccidiosis is one of the serious infectious diseases that pose huge impact on the health and production of poultry, hence mainly controlled by regular use of prophylactic and therapeutic chemical drugs. Frequent use of anticoccidial drugs, however, has resulted in the development of resistance in the Eimeria species and concerns about drug residues which have stimulated the efforts to search for alternative. Aloe pulcherrima and Aloe debrana are some of the endemic Aloe species of Ethiopia which are traditionally used for the treatment of various infectious diseases. In this study, an in vitro trial was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Aloe debrana and A. pulcherrima leaf gel infusions on the inhibition of the sporulation of oocysts of mixed Eimeria species isolated from naturally infected chickens. In this assay, petri dishes containing unsporulated coccidian oocysts at a dose of 1500 oocysts/ml of fecal solution were randomly assigned to 10, 15, 25, and 30% w/v crude gel infusion of both aloe species in 1% potassium dichromate solution while Amprolium and distilled water served as control groups. The results of this study show that 10, 15, 25, and 3 0% w/v gel infusions at the tested concentrations have anticoccidial activity as evidenced by their ability to decrease significantly (P<0.05) the sporulation of Eimeria oocysts relative to the control incubation. The efficacy of A. debrana was found significantly better (P<0.05) than A. pulcherrima at different concentrations. However, A. debrana at 30% concentration showed significantly higher (P<0.05) sporulation inhibition efficacy of 79.35% (CI: 75.99-83.21) compared to A. pulcherrima (69.17%, CI: 64.65-73.92) at similar concentration in relation to the control incubation, though this could not be compared to Amprolium which was more effective (P<0.05) with an inhibition percentage of 90.54% (CI: 89.16-92.21). This study has shown that there is potential for use of Aloe debrana leaf gel for the control of avian coccidiosis and as a chemotherapeutic, though much research is needed to determine absolute concentration which will make it comparable to commercially available drugs in terms of efficacy.