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.

EVALUATION OF ANTICOCCIDIAL ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF RICINUS COMMUNIS IN BROILER

Aims and Objectives: Coccidiosis is recognized as the parasitic disease which has the greatest economic impact on poultry production. The emergence of resistant strains to available drugs has become a major problem in order to treat/control coccidiosis. Botanicals can act as alternative to anticoccidial drugs. This study has therefore, been planned to evaluate both in vitro and in vivo anticoccidial activity of the plant R. communis. Methods: In in vitro trial 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25 and 0.625 percent, DMSO dissolved crude aqueous methanolic extract of R. communis was used to investigate its inhibitory effect upon sporulation of oocysts. The research was done in University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, with the collaboration of Parasitology, Pathology and Poultry departments. In in vivo trial, the plant was used at three graded concentrations for evaluation of its anticoccidial activity in broiler birds. A total of 144 (one-day-old) broiler chicks were divided into six groups each having 24 chicks. At age of 15 days, groups I, II and III were given 4%, 5% and 6% of dried powder of R. communis respectively. Group IV was served as positive control (infected, toltrazuril treated), group V as negative control (infected, non-medicated) and group VI was serve as non-infected and non-medicated control. All groups except group VI were infected orally with 50,000 sporulated oocysts of mixed Eimeria species at 18th day of age. Result: After 7 days of inoculation, six birds from each group were slaughtered to get results on oocysts score, lesion score, relative organ weight, hematology and immunomodulatory effect. Data was analyzed by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and group means were compared by Duncan’s multiple range tests. Conclusion: It was concluded that R. communis can be used as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent at local and regional level for the control of coccidiosis in broilers. Peer Review History: Received: 18 July 2021; Revised: 7 August; Accepted: 6 September, Available online: 15 September 2021 Academic Editor: Dr. Nuray Arı, Ankara University, Turkiye, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia, [email protected] Dr. Dennis Amaechi, MrsFoluBabade Mini Estate , Flat 5 by Old Soldiers Quarter, Sabongari/Bwari, Abuja- Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. [email protected] Similar Articles: ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANALGESIC AND COGNITIVE ENHANCER PLANTS PRESENT IN BANGLADESH: A STUDY REVIEW

Anticoccidial Activity of Berberine against Eimeria-Infected Chickens

Avian coccidiosis has a major economic impact on the poultry industry, it is caused by 7 species of Eimeria, and has been primarily controlled using chemotherapeutic agents. Due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains, alternative control strategies are needed. We assessed anticoccidial effects of berberine-based diets in broiler chickens following oral infection with 5 Eimeria species (E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, E. mitis, and E. praecox). When 0.2% berberine, a concentration that does not affect weight gain, was added to the diet, the 4 groups infected with E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. mitis, or E. praecox showed significant reductions in fecal oocyst shedding (P<0.05) compared to their respective infected and untreated controls. In chickens treated 0.5% berberine instead of 0.2% and infected with E. maxima, fecal oocyst production was significantly reduced, but body weight deceased, indicating that berberine treatment was not useful for E. maxima infection. Taken together, these results illustrate the applicability of berberine for prophylactic use to control most Eimeria infections except E. maxima. Further studies on the mechanisms underlying the differences in anticoccidial susceptibility to berberine, particularly E. maxima, are remained.

Essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis induces in vitro anthelmintic and anticoccidial effects against Haemonchus contortus and Eimeria spp. in small ruminants

This work aimed to evaluate the valorisation of the volatile oil of “Rosmarinus officinalis L.”, a spontaneously growing medicinal plant in Tunisia, by studying its chemical composition, anthelmintic and anticoccidial potentials against Eimeria spp. and Haemonchus contortus at different essential oil concentrations. The main compounds of the R. officinalis essential oil identified by GC/MS were three monoterpenes: 1,8-cineole (52.06%), α-pinene (15.35%) and camphor (7.69%). The anticoccidial activity was estimated by the inhibition percentage of the oocyte sporulation in addition to the unsporulated and degenerated Eimeria oocysts using a haemocytometer after exposure to different essential oil concentrations. The essential oil was active against Eimeria spp. oocysts of sheep at IC₅₀ = 1.82 ug/ml. Therefore, the IC₅₀ values of the anticoccidial activity of this oil examined was 1.82 mg/ml. The anthelmintic efficacy of the rosemary volatile oil against Haemonchus contortus was realised by two in vitro tests: the egg hatch assay (EHA) and the adult worm’s motility assay (AWMA), by comparing this efficacy with albendazole (anthelmintic, of reference). In the egg hatch assay, the percentage of inhibition was observed at 16 mg/ml and was 73.76% after 2 days of incubation (IC₅₀ = 11.41 mg/ml) and for the adult worm’s motility assay, it was 100% inhibition.

Anticoccidial potentials of methanol leaf extract of Lannea Schimperi in experimentally induced Eimeria tenella infection in broiler chickens

Coccidiosis is caused in chickens by the genus Eimeria spp, and is considered as one of the dominant poultry diseases worldwide. For decades, anticoccidial products have been used for the successful control of this disease. However, long term use of these products has led to the development of resistance. The current study therefore sought to investigate the anticoccidial activity of the methanol leaf extract of Lannea schimperi on experimentally induced Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) infection in broiler chickens in an attempt to provide good alternative therapy due to increasing resistance to the conventional anticoccidial agents. Seven groups (A-G) of 4 birds were used for the experiment and five groups (A-E) were orally inoculated with 1.0 x 103 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella. Groups A, B and C were treated with 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight of L. schimperi methanolic leaf extract respectively and Group D was treated with1.5 mg/ml of amprolium, group E served as negative control. Groups F and G were the uninfected neutral control and were treated with 25 and 100 mg/ml of L. schimperi methanol leaf extract respectively without being infected with E. tenella oocysts. Findings revealed dose dependent anticoccidial effect, with highest concentration of 100 mg/ml giving more activity than 50 and 25 mg/ml of the plant extract. Significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in the number of both schizonts and merozoites in the groups (A, B, C, F and G) treated with L. schimperi methanol leaf extract were observed. Large number of schizonts and merozoites were observed in the infected untreated group compared to the treated groups. Significant changes were also seen in the number of circulating eosinophils and lymphocytes. Insignificant changes (P > 0.05) in body weight gain were recorded; however, significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the intestinal mucus secretion was recorded in the amprolium treated group. These findings suggest that the methanolic leaf extract of L. schimperi possess anticoccidial activity that may warrant further investigation.

Beagle dog 90-day oral toxicity study of a novel coccidiostat – ethanamizuril

Background: Triazine coccidiostats are widely used in chickens and turkeys for coccidiosis control. Ethanamizuril is a novel triazine compound that exhibits anticoccidial activity in poultry. This study evaluated the subchronic toxicity of ethanamuzuril in beagle dogs administered ethanamizuril by diet at doses of 12, 60 or 300 mg/kg/day for 90 days.Results: Ethanamizuril was well tolerated at low and middle dosages and in these dose groups there were no ethanamizuril related effects on survival, clinical observations, clinical pathology parameters, organs weight, macroscopic or microscopic evaluations. The ethanamizuril related changes were limited to effects on food consumption and histologic changes of kidneys in the 300 mg/kg/day group in both sexes. However, renal lesions resolved in dogs given ethanamizuril at 300 mg/kg/day when evaluated four weeks after the end of exposure.Conclusions: Therefore, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be 60 mg/kg/day, the middle dosage level tested. These results add to the safety database for ethanamizuril with potential for use as a novel coccidiostat.

Beagle dog 90-day oral toxicity study of a novel coccidiostat – ethanamizuril

Background: Triazine coccidiostats are widely used in chickens and turkeys for coccidiosis control. Ethanamizuril is a novel triazine compound that exhibits anticoccidial activity in poultry. To support the safety assessment of the new potent anticoccidial agent, the subchronic toxicity of ethanamizuril was studied in beagle dogs administered ethanamizuril by diet at doses of 12, 60 or 300 mg/kg/day for 90 days.Results: Ethanamizuril was well tolerated at low and middle dosages and there were no ethanamizuril related effects on survival, clinical observations, clinical pathology parameters, organs weight, macroscopic or microscopic evaluations. The ethanamizuril related changes were limited to effects on food consumption and histologic changes of kidneys in the 300 mg/kg/day group in both sexes. However, the characteristic toxicities of ethanamizuril in kidneys are recoverable in convalescence dogs of 300 mg/kg/day group. Conclusions: Therefore, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be 60 mg/kg/day, the middle dosage level tested. These results add to the safety database for ethanamizuril with potential for use as a novel coccidiostat.