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Open Veterinary Journal
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Tripoli, Libya
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| Abstract: |
Background: The prevalence of avian coccidiosis in the poultry industry has grown, resulting in substantial financial
losses from high mortality, stunted growth, reduced productivity, and expensive medical expenses.
Aim: The purpose of the current study was to assess the immunological effects of neem leaf extract and toltrazuril on
broilers that had contracted coccidiosis.
Methods: In this investigation, 100 one-day-old Cobb broiler chicks without sexes were employed. The chicks were
divided into five equal groups, with 20 birds in each. On the 14th day of life, the birds in groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 received
an oral inoculation with 1 × 105 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) (field isolate). The first group (Gp),
which consists of 20 healthy broilers, served as a negative control. Gp (2) contains experimentally infected broilers
and nontreated (served as a positive control). Gp (3) contains experimentally infected broilers treated with toltrazuril
(1 ml/l drinking water) for two consecutive days. Gp (4) contains experimentally infected broilers treated with neem
leaf extract 4% (50 ml/l drinking water) for 5 successive days, and Gp (5) contains experimentally infected broilers
treated with toltrazuril (1 ml/l drinking water) and a half dose of neem leaves extract 4% (25 ml/l drinking water)
for 5 successive days. For the purpose of estimating body weight growth and feed conversion ratio, each broiler was
weighed separately at the start of the trial and again on the 1st and 10th day after treatment. In addition to obtaining
intestinal samples for immunohistochemistry, blood samples were also obtained for immunological examination.
Results: As compared to the negative control group, the experimentally infested broilers with E. tenella showed
significant decreases in serum nitric oxide, lysosome, phagocytic percent, and phagocytic index, along with significant
increases in white blood cells (WBCs), lymphocyte, heterophilis, eosinophilis, basophilis, monocyte, serum total
protein, γ globulin, fibrinogen, and haptoglobin. When compared to the control positive group, experimentally infested
broilers treated with either neem or toltrazuril alone or in combination demonstrated significant increases in serum
total protein, nitric oxide, lysozyme, phagocytic percent, and phagocytic index, but significant decreases in WBCs,
lymphocytes, heterophile, eosinophile, basophile, and monocyte. The intestinal peroxidase stain of broilers infected
with E. tenella exhibited a significant positive expression for CD4, but the infected broilers treated with toltrazuril and
half a dosage of neem displayed a negative expression for CD4, identical to the negative control.
Conclusion: The broiler chickens infested with E. tenella may have a variety of negative impacts on their immune
systems and immunohistopathological findings. Nonetheless, toltrazuril and neem extract, either separately or in
combination, function as anticoccidial medications that may enhance the broiler chicks’ immune state.
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