标题：Anticoccidial activities of Salvadora persica(arak), Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Curcuma longa (turmeric) extracts on the control of chicken coccidiosis
摘要：AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the effect ofSalvadora persica,Zingiber officinale andCurcuma longaplant extracts for the treatment ofEimeria tenellainfection in chickens.MethodsOne hundred and fifty broiler chickens one-day-old were obtained from a commercial breeder and kept under strict hygienic conditions. The chicks were divided into five equal groups. The first group was kept as a negative control (uninfected/untreated), second group was infected withE. tenella(105) orally at 14 days of age (untreated), while the third group was infected withE. tenella(105) orally at 14 days of age, then treated withS. persica[900 mg/kg body weight (bw)] for 5 days. The fourth group was infected withE. tenella(105) orally at 14 days of age, then treated withZ. officinale(6 g/L) for 5 days and The fifth group was infected withE. tenella(105) orally at 14 days of age, then treated withC. longa(300 mg/kg bw) for 5 days. Treatment in all groups started after signs of infection appeared, i.e. from 18 to 22 days of age.ResultsThere were significant decreases inEimeriaoocyst output in all treated groups from day 5 to 10 days post infection (dpi). The highest oocyst count occurred at 9 dpi and decreased on subsequent days. Red blood cell count (RBCs), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), and packed cell volume (PCV) showed significant decreases in the infection,Z. officinaleandC. longatreated groups, but theS. persicatreated group revealed non-significant changes in the first week after infection. The results of score lesion showed the highest lesion in the infected group with a significant decrease in theS. persicaandC. longagroups; there was a non-significant decrease in theZ. officinalegroup. All the results were confirmed histopathologically.ConclusionTreatment with herbal extracts ofS. persica,Z. officinaleandC. longawere effective in decreasing oocyst production and reducing the cecum lesion score.
