Alternative Therapeutic Strategies for Histomonosis: A Review

Abstract

Histomonosis is a protozoan disease of poultry that can cause severe mortalities in turkeys and production losses in the chicken. It is a fastidious disease with pathological lesions in the liver and ceca of infected birds. The disease has been known for more than 100 years when in vitro and in vivo experiments started to understand histomonosis, causative agent and its treatment. The traditional antiprotozoal medicines are being used for control, but public health concerns and resistance are limiting their use. Herbal products, nutraceuticals, vaccines and managemental measures are among the alternatives being investigated. Herbal products with antihistomonal activities also have been launched with limited advantages, feed additives are also showing many beneficial effects have been mentioned. The vaccines are also being investigated which can provide protective immunity in the near future. All of possible treatments their effects and limitations along with preventions have been mentioned in this article. There is a need to work on these substances tirelessly to manage the problem of histomonosis in Poultry.