The effects of combiningArtemisia annuaandCurcuma longaethanolic extracts in broilers challenged with infective oocysts ofEimeria acervulinaandE. maxima

Abstract

Due to an increasing demand for natural products to control coccidiosis in broilers, we investigated the effects of supplementing a combination of ethanolic extracts of Artemisia annua and Curcuma longa in drinking water. Three different dosages of this herbal mixture were compared with a negative control (uninfected), a positive control (infected and untreated), chemical coccidiostats (nicarbazin+narazin and, later, salinomycin), vaccination, and a product based on oregano. Differences in performance (weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion rate), mortality, gross intestinal lesions and oocyst excretion were investigated. Broilers given chemical coccidiostats performed better than all other groups. Broilers given the two highest dosages of the herbal mixture had intermediate lesion scores caused by Eimeria acervulina, which was higher than in broilers given coccidiostats, but less than in broilers given vaccination, oregano and in negative controls. There was a trend for lower mortality (P = 0·08) in the later stage of the growing period (23-43 days) in broilers given the highest dosage of herbal mixture compared with broilers given chemical coccidiostats. In conclusion, the delivery strategy of the herbal extracts is easy to implement at farm level, but further studies on dose levels and modes of action are needed.

Phytochemical control of poultry coccidiosis: a review

“… Eimeria tenella, Eimeria maxima, and Eimeria acervulina Improves feed conversion ratio and body weight gain. ( Del Cacho et al, 2010 ; Drăgan et al, 2010 , 2014 ; de Almeida et al, 2014 ; Kaboutari et al, 2014 ; Jiao et al, 2018 ) Leaf powder of A. annua Protects chickens from pathological symptoms and mortality associated with Eimeria tenella infection and reduces the lesion score, and fecal oocyst output. The leaf powder was more efficient than the essential oil, which could be due to a lack of artemisinin in the oil, and to the greater antioxidant ability of A. annua leaves than the oils.…”

Herbal Remedies for Coccidiosis Control: A Review of Plants, Compounds, and Anticoccidial Actions

“…Another reported that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), an active compound in C. longa , consistently destroyed sporozoites of E. tenella [ 118 ]. Similarly, a combination of A. annua and C. longa showed anticoccidial efficacy in broilers challenged with a mixture of E. acervulina and E. maxima [ 119 ]. In addition, curcumin was shown to enhance coccidiosis resistance as evidenced by increased BW gains and reduced oocyst shedding and gut lesions [ 21 , 67 ].…”

Control of Avian Coccidiosis: Future and Present Natural Alternatives

“…The combination of plants extracts was also used to evaluate anticoccidial activity, with the aim of obtaining a higher activity. Almeida et al [ 81 ] combined Artemisia annua and Curcuma longa ethanolic extracts to treat broilers infected with E. acervulina and E. maxima . The activity of both extracts was compared with broilers treated with chemical coccidiostats as controls.…”