Immunomodulatory and ameliorative effects of probiotic in combination with diclazuril on broilers under coccidia infection.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the potential prophylactic efficacy of probiotic individually and/or in combination with anti-coccidial drug on the performance and immunity of broilers under an induced coccidial infection over a 28-day of experimental trial. METHODS: One hundred and eighty 1-day-old Cobb broiler chicks were randomly divided into five groups, included control group (CG), control positive group (CPG), probiotic-treated group (Prob), diclazuril-treated group (Dic), and probiotic + diclazuril-treated group (Prob + Dic). On day 21 of age, all birds, except group CG, were orally inoculated with 1 ml of tap water containing 25,000 Eimeria tenella sporulated oocysts. RESULTS: Our results showed that the probiotic treatment did not influence pre-challenge body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR). During the post-challenge period, chickens in groups probiotic and diclazuril individually and in combination exhibited higher body weight and lower (better) FCR, reduced oocyst shedding (throughout the day four, five, six and seven post-infection), cecal lesions and mortality compared with control positive chickens. Moreover, Compared to CPG group, Prob + Dic group showed increased (p < 0.05) serum levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) and decreased the concentrations of interferon gamma (IFN-γ). On the other hand, individual treatment with probiotic exhibited highest serum levels of IL-10 and IgM, while diclazuril alone increased the blood concentrations of IL-10 and decreased the levels of IFN-γ compared to control positive group; however, there was no significant effect of Prob on IFN-γ, Dic on IgM and all groups on interleukin-17. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, supplementation of probiotic, with and/or without anti-coccidial drug, enhances immunity and inhibits the negative effects of Eimeria infection. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study reveals the anti-coccidial mechanisms of probiotic in the presence and absence of anti-coccidial drug in preventing the coccidia infection.

Dietary supplementation with Piper sarmentosum extract on gut health of chickens infected with Eimeria tenella.

To explore the potential alternative of anti-coccidials, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of dietary Piper sarmentosum extract (PSE) on induced coccidia infection in chickens. A total of 96-day-old chickens were randomly distributed to 1 of 3 treatment groups, including (1) control negative untreated uninfected (CN), (2) control positive untreated infected (CP), and (3) Piper sarmentosum (P. sarmentosum) extract-treated infected group (PSE). Our results demonstrated that E. tenella challenged untreated group showed a reduction (P < 0.05) in post-infection (PI) body weight compared to control negative group. However, supplementation of P. sarmentosum extract had no significant effects on body weight and cecal lesions compared with control positive group. Infected chickens fed PSE diet decreased (P < 0.05) the bloody diarrhea scores and oocyst shedding (during the day 5 to 8 post-infection) than that of CP chickens. E. tenella-challenged chickens upregulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression of IL-8 and Bcl-2 compared to PSE chickens, while IFN-γ compared to CN chickens. On the other hand, treatment of P. sarmentosum extract tended to increase (P < 0.05) the transcription patterns of IL-4, IL-10, CLDN 1, SOD 1, and Bax with the comparison of control positive group; however, there were no significant effects on IL-8, ZO 1, and CAT expression between the PSE and CP groups. Collectively, these findings elaborated that dietary P. sarmentosum extract exhibit potential anti-coccidial effects in controlling the coccidia infection in chickens.