Anti-parasitic activity of pelleted sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) against Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora in calves

Abstract

BackgroundIncreasing anthelmintic-resistance in nematodes of ruminants emphasises the need for sustainable parasite control. Condensed tannin-containing legume forages such as sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) have shown promising anthelmintic properties in small ruminants but this has never been explored in cattle. Therefore, our aim was to examine the efficacy of sainfoin against cattle nematodes in vivo.MethodsFifteen Jersey male calves (2–4 month-old) were allocated into two groups and fed isoproteic and isoenergetic diets mainly composed of sainfoin pellets (Group SF; n = 9, three pens) or concentrate and grass-clover hay (Group CO; n = 6, two pens). After 16 days of adaptation, all animals were experimentally infected with 10,000 and 66,000 third-stage larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora, respectively. Egg excretion, blood parameters and bodyweights were recorded throughout the study. Worms were harvested by sieving for quantification and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) 42 days post-infection (dpi) when the calves were necropsied.ResultsThe number of O. ostertagi adults in the abomasum was reduced by 50 % in Group SF compared with Group CO (P < 0.05). This was further reflected in higher albumin (P < 0.1) and lower pepsinogen levels (P < 0.05) in Group SF at 21 dpi, and structural damage of the worm cuticle could be visualised by SEM. Yet, the nematode egg excretion in Group SF was not significantly different from that of the controls (P > 0.05). Likewise, no statistical difference in total worm burdens of C. oncophora was found between the groups. Weight gains were lower for Group SF (P < 0.05), which may reflect lower digestibility and phosphorus levels in the SF diet, despite similar feed intake at pen-level.ConclusionsOverall, the effect of sainfoin on abomasal nematodes corroborates results from studies with small ruminants and encourages further investigations of the use of this crop for control of cattle nematodes.

Benefits of Condensed Tannins in Forage Legumes Fed to Ruminants: Importance of Structure, Concentration, and Diet Composition

“…However, despite these apparent losses, sericea lespedeza and sainfoin silage extracts and silages still exerted anthelmintic effects in vitro by inhibiting the exsheathment of H. contortus L3 larvae and in vivo by lowering adult worm burden and fecal egg counts (Heckendorn et al, 2006;Manolaraki, 2011;Terrill et al, 2016). A high activity against O. ostertagi nematodes of the abomasum contrasted with no activity against intestinal Cooperia oncophora nematodes and was associated with 2.3% CTs (g 100 g −1 dry matter by thiolysis) in the abomasum vs. 0.02% CTs in the intestine (Desrues et al, , 2016b(Desrues et al, , 2017. A high activity against O. ostertagi nematodes of the abomasum contrasted with no activity against intestinal Cooperia oncophora nematodes and was associated with 2.3% CTs (g 100 g −1 dry matter by thiolysis) in the abomasum vs. 0.02% CTs in the intestine (Desrues et al, , 2016b(Desrues et al, , 2017.…”

“…This may either be due to sufficient quantities of undegraded CTs or hydrolysis of anthelmintic flavonoids from inactive glycosides (Manolaraki, 2011), or to proteinbound CTs surviving ruminal fermentation and exerting anthelmintic activity in the abomasum, where a lower pH facilitates dissociation of the CT-protein complex ( Jones and Mangan, 1977). A high activity against O. ostertagi nematodes of the abomasum contrasted with no activity against intestinal Cooperia oncophora nematodes and was associated with 2.3% CTs (g 100 g −1 dry matter by thiolysis) in the abomasum vs. 0.02% CTs in the intestine (Desrues et al, , 2016b(Desrues et al, , 2017. However, both nematode species were affected by CTs in the in vitro larval feeding inhibition assay .…”

A polyphenol-enriched diet and Ascaris suum infection modulate mucosal immune responses and gut microbiota composition in pigs

“…Bioactive dietary components such as polyphenols have received a great deal of interest in recent times for their apparent ability to reduce infection and/or egg shedding of pathogenic parasites such as Haemonchus contortus and Ostertagia ostertagi [ 11 , 34 ], as well as enhancing immune function [ 35 ]. In our current study, we found that whilst establishment of A .…”

“…The most common flavan-3-ol monomeric subunits are either catechin and its cis -isomer epicatechin, which give rise to procyanidin-type PAC, and gallocatechin and epigallocatechin, which give rise to prodelphinidin-type PAC [ 8 ] ( S1 Fig ). Antimicrobial effects of polyphenols are well-known; PAC- or ellagitannin-containing diets have been shown to effectively reduce helminth infection in sheep, goats, and cattle [ 9 – 11 ], and PAC-rich supplements have also shown promise in controlling gut pathogens in pigs such as Escherichia coli [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Anthelmintic efficacy of cranberry vine extracts on ovine Haemonchus contortus

“…Condensed tannins, also called proanthocyanidins (PAC), have received the most study. Several PAC-containing forages, such as sericea lespedeza ( Lespedeza cuneata ) (Lange et al, 2006; Shaik et al, 2006; Terrill et al, 2009; Acharya et al, 2015), birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus ) (Heckendorn et al, 2007), sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia ) (Heckendorn et al, 2007; Desrues et al, 2016), and sulla ( Hedysarum coronarium ) (Niezen et al, 1998) have been found to show activity against GIN. In vitro testing, using plant derived PAC organic extracts (extraction performed using organic solvents; i.e.…”