Performance and anticoccidial effects of nicarbazin-fed broilers reared at standard or reduced environmental temperatures

Abstract

A series of 4 floor pen studies was conducted to evaluate the effects of environmental temperature modification on nicarbazin (NIC) responses in broiler chickens raised to 28 d of age. Birds were reared at either standard temperatures (recommended by the primary breeder for ages zero to 28 d) or at 3°C below this level. From placement to 28 d, birds were provided feeds containing zero, 100, or 125 ppm NIC, comprising a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement in each test. Two of the trials were conducted in the presence of an imposed coccidial challenge and 2 were conducted in healthy animals. At 18 and 28 d of age, performance was recorded; cloacal temperatures were measured at 7, 14, 21, and 26 days. Mortality data were collected daily and coccidial lesions were scored at 6 d post challenge. Results of these studies revealed that NIC improved coccidial lesion scores regardless of environmental temperature. In the absence of coccidial challenge, NIC depressed performance, but reductions in environmental temperature diminished the magnitude of these responses. Under conditions of coccidial challenge, NIC significantly improved body weight gains in both temperature environments. Compared to standard temperature conditions, lower environmental temperatures exerted a positive effect on feed conversion rates of NIC-fed broilers. Birds reared in the low temperature environment exhibited lower cloacal temperatures than standard environment groups throughout the test period. Irrespective of coccidial challenge, lower environmental temperatures significantly reduced nicarbazin mortality compared to standard temperature groups, resulting in a significant nicarbazin x temperature interaction. This finding indicates that temperature modification is a practical method for minimizing mortality over the course of 28-day nicarbazin usage.

Comparative efficacy of tannin-free grain sorghum varieties for the control of necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens

“…In addition, dinitrocarbanilide was found to be higher in red/bronze and white/tan grain sorghum varieties. In fact, nicarbazin is an equimolar complex of dinitrocarbanilide and a common broad spectrum chemical anticoccidial used against Eimeria ( Long et al., 1988 ; Da Costa et al., 2017 ; Bacila et al., 2018 ). Reduced lesions in red/bronze and white/tan treatments may be a result of dinitrocarbanilide content and may be of interest to further investigate its relation to nicarbazin and its mode of action.…”

Preparation of DNC Solid Dispersion by a Mechanochemical Method with Glycyrrhizic Acid and Polyvinylpyrrolidone to Enhance Bioavailability and Activity

“…Nicarbazin (NIC) is a broad-spectrum anticoccidial agent with high security and low resistance, the equimolar complex of 4,4′-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC) with 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine (HDP), which has been synthesized and utilized since the 1950s [ 5 ]. Previous contribution has reported that NIC [ 6 ] inhibited the second generation schizont of E. tenella , which was essential for killing and restraining coccidia growth; therefore, NIC has been proposed as a promising preventing strategy for the therapy of coccidiosis.…”

Emerging threat ofEimeriaoperational taxonomic units (OTUs) on poultry production

“…Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria invade and damage the epithelial lining of the infected animal's intestinal cells (Cheng et al ., 2018). This in turn, reduces the absorption of nutrients across the wall of the gut, resulting in poor growth and performance, as well as, leaving the infected chickens susceptible to secondary diseases (Adewole et al ., 2017; da Costa et al ., 2017). In addition to compromising the health of chickens, the disease has incurred a large economic loss exceeding $3 billion.…”