Pleurotus ostreatus extract inhibits Eimeria species development in naturally infected broiler chickens

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Coccidian organisms of poultry have proved very hard to control due to their abilities to resist most anticoccidial drugs. Pleurotus ostreatus (Fr.) Jacq. ex...     

Pathogenicity of Eimeria praecox alone or associated with Eimeria acervulina in experimentally infected broiler chickens

Eimeria praecox and Eimeria acervulina are two species of coccidia parasites infecting chickens, which develop in the duodenum. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of E. praecox and to study interactions of this coccidium with E. acervulina. The results showed that the pathogenicity of E. praecox was related to the infective dose, and that its impact on individual weight and weight gain was significant from the lowest administered dose: 5000 oocysts per bird. No morbidity was observed, even with the highest infective dose, but faecal consistency alteration was higher with increasing infective doses. No consistent lesion was observed. When E. praecox was associated with E. acervulina with a low infective dose, performance deterioration seemed to be an additional effect of the two species. However, in the case of heavy infections, signs worsened along with duration of negative impact on growth, compared to a mono-infection.     

Direct effects of Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) acetone leaf extract on broiler chickens naturally infected with Eimeria species

Avian coccidiosis is one of the most important diseases of poultry and it is responsible for a large number of all broiler mortalities worldwide. The control of this disease relies mainly on the use of anticoccidial drugs. However, herbal preparations could be an alternative for the treatment against coccidiosis in chickens. The direct effects of Moringa oleifera acetone extracts on broiler chickens naturally infected with mixed Eimeria species was investigated to determine the relative efficacy of the extracts against coccidiosis in birds. The investigations were carried out in seven groups (ten chickens per group). The birds were given various doses (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 g/kg body weight) of acetone extract of leaves of M. toltrazuril® (positive control) and untreated (negative control). The extract was evaluated for anticoccidial activity by means of inhibition of oocyst output in faeces, faecal score, weight gain and mortality. Haematological indices were evaluated by standard methods. The group treated with 1.0 g/ kg body weight Moringa oleifera extract produced the least inhibitory effect on oocyst shed in the faeces (96.4 %), while the groups treated with 2.0 g/kg, 3.0 g/kg, 4.0 g/kg and 5.0 g/kg body weight of the extract produced 97.4, 98.7, 99.1 and 99.8 %, respectively. Body weight gains of infected chickens treated with the extract significantly improved (p?<?0.05), and faecal scores were milder. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red blood count of the treated birds were significantly (p?<?0.05) higher than those of the infected untreated group. Moringa oleifera leaves could find application in the treatment of avian coccidiosis in veterinary practice.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫（Eimeria tenella）感染鸡IgG生成细胞及血清IgG变化

利用免疫组化技术和Dot-ELISA，分别检测了雏鸡初次感染柔嫩艾美耳球虫（E.tenella)后，盲肠局部和免疫器官中IgG生成细胞数的动态变化、循环血液中特异性IgG水平的动态变化、雏鸡母源抗体的动态变化以及不同抗体水平雏鸡的抗球虫能力。结果表明，（1）感染后2-3d，盲肠粘膜、脾脏、法氏囊、肓肠扁桃体中的IgG生成细胞即开始增殖，9-12d达峰值，随后开始下降，盲肠扁桃体中IgG生成细胞数在22d时仍高于对照组；（2）感染后6d即可在循环血液中检测到特异性IgG，18d达峰值，30d降至感染后7d时的水平；（3）特异性母源抗体IgG水平高的雏鸡，抗球虫能力高，二者呈明显的正相关。     

Virulence of Mycoplasma synoviae strains in experimentally infected broiler chickens

Seven field isolates of German origin and the type strain WVU 1853 of Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) were experimentally investigated for their virulence in mycoplasma-free broiler chickens. Two groups of birds were inoculated at 6 days of age with each isolate, one group into the thoracic air sac and the other group intravenously and all surviving birds were examined at necropsy 17 days post inoculation (pi). Groups of negative control birds received sterile Frey's broth medium by intravenous and intra-air sac inoculation, respectively. Variation in virulence was evaluated on the basis of significant differences in incidence, severity and extend of MS-induced airsacculitis and synovitis as well as isolation rates of MS especially from parenchymous organs. All the strains tested were pathogenic but varied in their virulence for broiler chickens. Based on differences of the virulence, the isolates were classified to the categories: (1.) highly virulent, (2.) virulent, (3.) moderately virulent and (4.) slightly virulent. (1) Strains WVU 1853 and 246-91 induced a systemic disease associated with multiple synovitis and bilateral airsacculitis (2) Strains 93-92 and 151-77 induced bilateral airsacculitis similar to WVU 1853 and 246-91 but rarely a systemic disease after exposure by intra-thoracic airsac inoculation. (3) In comparison, strains 27-79, 76-93 and 513-83 caused less frequently airsacculitis and even if, then only at the side of intra-airsac exposure. (4) Strain 91-93 has been found to differ significantly from all the other isolates in its capacity to produce disease independently from the inoculation route. After intravenous inoculation, findings gave no indications for strains with selective tropism to the epithelial membranes of the lower respiratory tract or to those of the joints, tendon sheaths and bursae. However, the presented data of the experiments suggest that the MS strains tested differ in their potential capacity to invade systemically and produce acute septicaemia.     

Effect of coated and non-coated fatty acid supplementation on broiler chickens experimentally infected with Campylobacter jejuni

The aim of this study was to examine whether and to what extent the supplementation of feed with a coated or non-coated mixture of fatty acids (caprylic and capric acid) affects broiler chickens experimentally infected with Campylobacter jejuni. The study was carried out using 48 chickens divided into four experimental groups. Throughout the whole rearing period (1-42 days), the chickens were fed a diet supplemented with 0.25% caprylic and capric acid (1:1), coated or non-coated. At the age of 14 and 28 days, chickens were orally challenged with C. jejuni. At regular time intervals post-inoculation, the shedding of C. jejuni was assayed using quantitative real-time PCR. Both supplements significantly decreased faecal C. jejuni counts by 1.2-4.1 log(10) CFU/g 4 days post-inoculation; after this time period, the effect of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) was less pronounced or absent. Campylobacter jejuni counts in excreta samples were significantly lower in chickens fed coated MCFA than in those fed non-coated MCFA. No effect of MCFA on feed intake or growth of chickens was observed. In conclusion, (i) MCFA are active against C. jejuni and (ii) the encapsulation enhanced the efficacy of the acids. These results allow the recommendation of using MCFA as feed additives in chickens, preferably 2-3 days before slaughter.     

Kinetic differences in intestinal and systemic interferon-gamma and antigen-specific antibodies in chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria maxima

Kinetic differences between systemic vs. intestinal and humoral vs. cellular immune responses were elucidated in chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria maxima by comparing interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and parasite-specific antibody levels in the intestine and serum during the course of infection. The level of serum IFN-gamma correlated significantly with fecal oocyst shedding (r2 = 0.97), thereby establishing the importance of cell-mediated immunity in coccidia infection. Moreover, intestinal IFN-gamma levels increased sooner than those in sera (4 vs. 6 days postinfection) and both were observed prior to the appearance of parasite-specific antibodies (8-10 days postinfection), again indicating the importance of intestinal cellular immunity in coccidiosis. Although immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, and IgM isotypes of the antigen-specific antibody response increased significantly in both the intestine and serum after E. maxima infection, intestinal IgA-specific antibodies showed the most dramatic increase. However, the relevance of this observation in the context of primary Eimeria infection is unclear because the coccidia parasites have reached the final stages of their life cycle by this time. These results thus demonstrate the importance of T-cell immune responses against coccidia, characterized by local IFN-gamma secretion in the intestine, in mediating host protective immune response to coccidia.     

Hypericum perforatum extract therapy for chickens experimentally infected with infectious bursal disease virus and its influence on immunity

Hypericum perforatum extract (HPE) has been proved a drug effective to many viral diseases. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and immuno-enhancement of HPE for chickens which were already challenged with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV BC-6/85). Chickens infected with IBDV were treated with HPE for 5 consecutive days, the observation of immune organ indexes and pathological changes index, determination of IFN-α and detection of IBDV with RT-PCR were employed to assess in vivo whether or not HPE had the certain therapeutic efficacy on infectious bursal disease (IBD), and if HPE was able to improve the immunologic function. The results showed that 1330 and 667.9 mg/kg body weight (BW) per day of HPE had significant therapeutic efficacy and improvement immunologic functions for chickens infected experimentally with IBDV.     

Effect of subcutaneously administered diclazuril on the output of Eimeria species oocysts by experimentally infected rabbits

The effect of subcutaneously injected diclazuril on the output of Eimeria species oocysts was studied in experimentally infected rabbits. Diclazuril was administered either prophylactically at 0.5, 1 or 2 mg/kg bodyweight two days before each rabbit was inoculated with 20,000 oocysts of a mixed-species field isolate of Eimeria or therapeutically at 1, 2 or 4 mg/kg bodyweight five days after they were inoculated. The prophylactic treatments significantly reduced (P<0.05) the output of oocysts in faeces and the numbers in the rabbits' livers at all doses. The therapeutic treatment at 4 mg/kg also caused a significant reduction (P<0.05) in oocyst shedding, but the lower doses resulted in only a moderate reduction. The shedding of the pathogenic species Eimeria stiedae, Eimeria magna, Eimeria irresidua, Eimeria flavescens, Eimeria piriformis and Eimeria intestinalis was significantly reduced (P<0.05) in all the treated groups. The burden of oocysts in the livers of the therapeutic groups (4000 to 9000) were significantly lower (P<0.05) than in the inoculated but untreated control group (23,000), but higher than in the prophylactic groups (around 1000).     

雏鹅感染鹅艾美耳球虫的病理学试验

鹅球虫病是由寄生于家鹅及雁形目鸟类的球虫引起的一种寄生性原虫病,呈世界性分布,在欧洲和北美尤其是中欧一些国家,鹅球虫病是家鹅的一种常见病[1],国内直到20世纪80年代初才有报道[2].     

Identification and quantification of granulocytes in caecal mucosa and submucosa of chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella and Salmonella enteritidis

1. Poultry granulocytes are not clearly distinguished from each other with haematoxylineosin (HE) stain; thus, histochemical techniques must be used. Three experiments were carried out using 4-week-old Leghorn chickens. 2. Three, 80-chicken groups were orally infected with (1) 10 8 colony forming units (CFUs) Salmonella enteritidis , or (2) 10 4 Eimeria tenella oocysts, or (3) 10 8 CFUs S. enteritidis + 10 4 E. tenella oocysts. Ten chickens from each group were euthanased and caecum samples obtained. Caecum samples were fixed in 10% formalin (buffered, pH 7.4) at 4, 8, 12 h, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 d post-inoculation (PI). 3. Samples were stained using three different staining techniques: HE for the identification of heterophils and eosinophils, Ziehl-Neelsen for mast cells, and p -phenilenediamine dihydrochloride plus pyrocatechol (PPD + PC) for eosinophils. 4. Birds from Experiment 1 showed no changes in the numbers of granulocytes. Birds from Experiments 2 and 3 showed higher numbers of heterophils in caecal mucosa and submucosa separately, on d 5 and 7. In Experiment 3, a decrease was observed in submucosal mast cells on d 3. Chickens from Experiments 2 and 3 showed increased numbers of mucosal mast cells between d 7 and 14. 5. PPD + PC positively stained eosinophils, but not heterophils. 6. Numbers of heterophils and mast cells were increased during the acute inflammatory process caused by E. tenella . Therefore, mast cells could play a role as primary inflammatory cells. Eosinophils seem not to be part of the inflammatory process caused by E. tenella .     

甲砜霉素在感染多杀性巴氏杆菌鸡体内的药物动力学

30只健康杂交肉鸡随机分成3组,每组10只,雌雄各半,分别进行健康鸡静脉注射、健康和巴氏杆菌感染鸡口服给药的药动学研究。静注和口服的给药剂量按体质量分别为15mg/kg和30mg/kg。以反相HPLC测定血浆中甲砜霉素的质量浓度,药物浓度-时间数据用3P97药动学程序软件处理。健康鸡单剂量静注给药后,血药浓度-时间数据符合无吸收二室开放模型,其主要动力学参数分别为:V(c)为(0.58±0.09)L/kg,t1/2α(0.11±0.03)h,t1/2β(0.95±0.18)h,AUC为(11.99±0.90)mg/(L.h),CL(s)为(1.26±0.10)L/(kg.h)。健康鸡和巴氏杆菌感染鸡单剂量口服给药血药浓度-时间数据均符合一级吸收一室开放模型。健康鸡口服给药的主要动力学参数分别为:Lagtime(0.04±0.02)h,t1/2ka(0.16±0.08)h,t1/2ke(1.64±0.22)h,T(peak)(0.57±0.18)h,C(max)(6.34±0.56)mg/L,AUC为(19.02±1.48)mg/(L.h),F为79.32%。巴氏杆菌感染鸡口服给药的主要动力学参数分别为:Lagtime(0.07±0.02)h,t1/2ka(0.54±0.26)h,t1/2ke(1.74±0.27)h,T(peak)(1.31±0.39)h,C(max)(5.28±0.73)mg/L,AUC为(21.75±1.03)mg/(L.h),F90.70%。与健康鸡相比,甲砜霉素在感染鸡的t1/2(ka)、T(peak)和Lag-time显著延长(P0.05或P0.01),且比健康鸡具有更高的生物利用度。但甲砜霉素在巴氏杆菌感染鸡体内的消除速度未受影响。     

Anticoccidial efficacy of drinking water soluble diclazuril on experimental and field coccidiosis in broiler chickens

Prophylactic and curative capacity of water soluble formulation of Diclazuril (Diclosol 1%) and feed additive form (Clinacox, 0.5%) were tested against Eimeria infection in broiler chickens. Such testing was performed both experimentally and in the field. Toltrazuril (Baycox, 2.5%) was used as reference control drug. Water soluble formulation of Diclazuril induced a marked inhibitory effect on the different stages of the parasite life cycle in experimentally infected treated birds especially when applied on the day when blood first appeared in the faeces [fifth day post-infection (d.p.i.)] as well as on the second day of blood dropping (6 d.p.i.). Both tested dosage levels of Diclazuril water soluble formulation in drinking water (5 and 10 ppm) showed the same effect in controlling coccidial infection and reducing the total oocyst numbers, lesion and faecal scores. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the efficacy of water soluble form of Diclazuril and the reference control drug (Toltrazuril, 25 ppm). In addition, testing the water soluble formulation (5 ppm) in naturally infected poultry farm (20,000 birds), showed the same anticoccidial effect observed when using Toltrazuril, as a treatment for coccidiosis. In conclusion, addition of Diclazuril at the dose of 5 ppm in the drinking water of naturally coccidia infected bird induced the same effect as 25 ppm of Toltrazuril as a treatment for coccidiosis in chickens.     

Kinetics of interleukin-2 production in chickens infected with Eimeria tenella

Interleukin (IL)-2 is a major cytokine of cell-mediated immunity (CMI). Because chickens infected with Eimeria, the causative agent of coccidiosis, develop a robust cell-mediated response against the parasite, we measured IL-2 concentrations in vivo and in vitro during the course of primary and secondary experimental Eimeria tenella infections. IL-2 levels in serum and culture supernatants of spleen lymphocytes stimulated with mitogen or E. tenella sporozoites were significantly increased on day 7 post-primary infection compared with control group. This peak in IL-2 coincided with the time of maximum intestinal lesions as measured by cecum lesion scores. By contrast, during secondary infection highest IL-2 concentrations preceded intestinal lesions by 5 days (day 2 versus day 7, respectively). These results confirmed that IL-2 production is augmented during experimental coccidiosis and suggested that cellular immunity elicited during an anamnestic response to parasite reinfection is mediated, at least in part, by IL-2.     

人工感染空肠弯曲菌SPF雏鸡的病理学研究

空肠弯曲菌（campylobacter jejuni）是近十几年来被认识的世界范围广泛流行的人兽共患病原菌，它不仅能引起鸡的肠炎和肝炎，而且引起人类急性肠炎和食物中毒，英美流行病学研究已证实弯曲菌病作为食源性传染病的重要意义，因此本菌在公共卫生学上具有重要意义，     

Energy and nitrogen metabolism of chickens infected with either Eimeria acervulina or Eimeria tenella.

1. The effects of sublethal infections of E. acervulina and E. tenella on the energy and nitrogen metabolism of groups of five broilers aged 16 d were studied for 16 d in respiration chambers. 2. The metabolisable energy content of the diet for chickens infected with E. acervulina was 0.689 of its gross energy content and N retention was 42.5 g/100 g N intake compared with 0.738 and 47.1 g respectively, in uninfected pair-fed controls. Chickens infected with E. tenella were similarly affected. 3. Efficiency of utilisation of ME by chickens infected with E. acervulina was 0.43 during the first 8 d after infection, and 0.52 during the second 8 d compared with an overall efficiency by non-infected chickens fed ad libitum of 0.73. Maintenance energy requirement of infected chickens was higher during the first 8 d after infection than during the second 8-d period. 4. Body composition measurements showed that of the total gain in weight of chickens infected with E. acervulina, only 7.5 g/kg gain was fat and 213 g/kg was protein compared with 45 g and 210 g respectively for non infected chickens fed ad libitum. 5. E. acervulina and E. tenella infections reduced the apparent digestibility of total mineral, calcium and phosphorus.     

中药复方制剂预防鸡巨型艾美耳球虫感染的效果观察

为了探讨常山、青蒿、黄连、大黄、黄芩、黄柏、黄芪、地榆、柴胡等中药组成的不同中药复方制剂预防鸡巨型艾美耳球虫感染的效果,试验设阴性对照组(Ⅰ组)、阳性对照组(Ⅱ组)、中药预防Ⅲ组、中药预防Ⅳ组、中药预防Ⅴ组和中药预防Ⅵ组6个组。结果显示,6个组相对增重率依次为100%、46.65%、84.94%、46.81%、11.37%和30.77%,攻虫后各组死亡率依次为0、20%、10%、0、10%和0,肠道病变记分依次为0、2.4、1、1、1.2和0.8;抗球虫指数(ACI)6个组依次为200、80.25、161.94、121.81、86.67和97.17。结果表明,中药复方制剂Ⅰ预防球虫病效果较好,其他组也有一定的预防作用,但效果不明显。该试验结果为中药复方制剂预防鸡球虫病提供理论依据。     

Coccidiosis immunization: effects of mushroom and herb polysaccharides on immune responses of chickens infected with Eimeria tenella

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of polysaccharide extracts (E) of two mushrooms, Lentinus edodes (LenE) and Tremella fuciformis (TreE), and an herb, Astragalus membranaceus (AstE), on the immune responses of chickens infected with Eimeria tenella. A total of 180 broiler chickens were assigned to nine groups: three groups were fed with each of the extracts (LenE, TreE, and AstE), three groups were fed with the extracts and immunized with live oocyst vaccine (LenE+V, TreE+V, and AstE+V), a group was immunized with the vaccine only, and there were two controls (E. tenella-infected and noninfected groups). The oocyst vaccine was given at 4 days of age, and the extracts (1 g/kg of the diet) were supplemented from 8 to 14 days of age. At 18 days of age, all birds except those in the noninfected group were infected with 9 x 10(4) sporulated oocysts. The results showed that at 7 days postinfection (p.i.), birds fed the extracts without vaccination had lower body weight (BW) gain than those given the vaccine only. However, the extracts in conjunction with the vaccine significantly enhanced BW gain of the infected chickens compared with the vaccine group. Of the three extracts, LenE and TreE showed a better growth-promoting effect. The extracts largely increased oocyst excretion of droppings during the primary response postvaccination. The cecal peak oocyst output and lesion scores measured at 7 days p.i. were higher in the groups fed the extracts than in the group immunized with the vaccine only, whereas those of the groups fed with the extracts and immunized with the vaccine were not significantly different from the vaccine group. Of the three extracts, both LenE- and AstE-fed groups showed lower cecal oocyst output. Thus, as compared with the extracts, the live, attenuated vaccine showed better results with significantly increased immune response in coccidial infected birds. The polysaccharide extracts may prove useful against avian coccidiosis, and, particularly when they are used in conjunction with vaccine, they have shown preliminary promise against the experimental coccidial infection.     

Biochemical and molecular effects of a commercial diuretic with herbal extract on experimentally induced urolithiasis in chickens

Veterinary Research Communications - This study evaluated the diuretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunological effects of a commercial diuretic (CD) (composed of ammonium chloride,...     

Effects of dietary supplementation with a herbal extract on the performance of broilers infected with a mixture of Eimeria species

1. A herbal extract containing a blend of three essential oils, derived from oregano, laurel leaf and lavender, was investigated as a feed additive alternative to the conventional anticoccidial sodium monensin.

2. Broilers were infected with a mixture of Eimeria species or left uninfected.

Both infected and uninfected broilers were provided with diets containing either herbal extract (HEX), monensin (MON) or without these supplements (CON). The HEX group had 50?mg herbal extract/kg diet and the MON group 100?mg monensin/kg diet.

3. All of the uninfected broilers exhibited higher body weight gain and better feed conversion when compared with their infected counterparts at d 28 and 42 of age. Both HEX and MON supplements caused significant improvements in performance in the infected broilers, but failed to have any effect on uninfected broilers.

4. Faecal oocyst output measured daily by sampling excreta, and expressed on a per bird basis, was lower in the HEX and MON groups than in the CON group. However, the herbal extract was not as effective as monensin in reducing oocyst excretion. Coccidial infection caused a significant increase in total intestinal length and caecal weight, but the dietary treatments did not influence these measurements.

5. These results indicate that providing a herbal extract in the diet was not as effective as monensin in protecting broilers exposed to a coccidial challenge.