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BMC Veterinary Research
Springer Nature
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| Abstract: |
Avian coccidiosis is one of the many disorders that seriously harm birds’ digestive systems. Nowadays the light is shed
on using Phytochemical/herbal medicines as alternative natural anti-coccidial chemical-free standards. Consequently,
this study aimed to investigate the impact of lawsonia inermis powder (LIP), and Acacia nilotica aqueous extract (ANAE),
on growth performance, serum biochemical, antioxidant status, cytokine biomarkers, total oocyst count and intestinal
histopathology of broiler chickens challenged with coccidiosis. Two hundred and forty-one-day-old Ross chicks were
randomly distributed into 8 groups, four were challenged with coccidia, while the other four were unchallenged.
Each group consisted of 3 replicates of 10 chicks each. The birds were challenged with Eimeria species orally on day 14
of age. Group 1B was unchallenged, and Group 2 A was challenged with coccidiosis and both were fed the basic diet
without additives. Groups 3 A, 4 A, and 5 A were challenged and fed on the basic diet supplemented with LIP (40 g/
kg of diet), ANAE (5 g/kg of diet), and LIP+ANAE combination, respectively. Groups 3B, 4B, and 5B were unchallenged
and fed on the basic diet supplemented with LIP (40 g/kg of diet) and ANAE (5 g/kg of diet) and LIP+ANAE combi-
nation, respectively. The best results of growth performance parameters were recorded in G5B, and G5A followed
by the group fed on ANAE and then the group fed on LIP compared with the control. All challenged broilers had
higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), urea, creatinine, glucose, MDA, IL-4 &TNF-α levels
compared to all unchallenged broilers. Challenged broilers had lower serum cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein,
albumin, globulin, SOD, GPX & IL-10 levels compared to non-challenged broilers. Histopathological examination
of the small intestine and cecum of challenged treated groups with LIP+ANAE showed good mucosal integrity, few
leukocytes infiltration, and low total oocyst count in broilers manure, followed by ANAE then LIP groups. In conclusion,
dietary supplementation of lawsonia inermis powder and Acacia nilotica aqueous extract either alone or in combina-
tion had positive effects on broiler performance, blood metabolites, antioxidant status, cellular response, and intesti-
nal morphology during the exposure to Eimeria spp. as a potential natural anti-coccidial.
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