本试验旨在探讨饲粮中添加迷迭香水溶性提取物(WER)对感染艾美耳球虫(E.tenella),并评价WER的抗球虫活性。将360只1日龄中国本土雄性黄羽肉鸡随机分为6组:空白对照(BC)组和感染对照(IC)组接受基础日粮;阳性对照(PC)组,接受补充200mg/kg双色齐鲁的基础饮食;WER100、WER200和WER300组接受含有100、200和300mg/kgWER的基础饮食,分别。在第21天,感染组的所有鸟类(IC,PC,WER100,WER200和WER300)用1mL磷酸盐缓冲盐水(PBS)的8×104个孢子形成的E.tenella卵囊口服,给予BC组中的禽类等分的PBS稀释液。结果表明,饲粮添加200mg/kgWER可使第22~29d肉鸡平均日增重(ADG)比IC组增加(P<0.001)。100,200和300mg/kgWER的抗球虫指数值分别为137.49,157.41和144.22,这表明WER表现出中等的抗球虫活性。与IC组相比,补充WER(100、200和300mg/kg)的组显着降低了粪便囊肿的产量(P<0.001)和盲肠球虫卵囊,减轻肠道损伤,维持肠上皮的完整性。膳食补充WER显著提高了抗氧化能力,分泌性免疫球蛋白A的水平升高,减少盲肠内的炎症,特别是在200mg/kg的剂量下。本研究结果表明,饲粮添加200mg/kgWER可以改善肉鸡生长性能,减轻球虫病对肠道的损害。
This study was conducted to explore the effect of dietary supplementation of water-soluble extract of rosemary (WER) on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers infected with Eimeria tenella (E. tenella), and evaluate the anticoccidial activity of WER. 360 1-d-old Chinese indigenous male yellow-feathered broiler chickens were randomly allocated to six groups: blank control (BC) group and infected control (IC) group received a basal diet; positive control (PC) group, received a basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg diclazuril; WER100, WER200, and WER300 groups received a basal diet containing 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg WER, respectively. On day 21, all birds in the infected groups (IC, PC, WER100, WER200, and WER300) were orally gavaged with 1 mL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) of 8 × 104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella, and birds in the BC group were administrated an aliquot of PBS dilution. The results showed that dietary supplementation of 200 mg/kg WER increased the average daily gain of broilers compared to the IC group from days 22 to 29 (P < 0.001). The anticoccidial index values of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg WER were 137.49, 157.41, and 144.22, respectively, which indicated that WER exhibited moderate anticoccidial activity. Compared to the IC group, the groups supplemented with WER (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) significantly lowered fecal oocyst output (P < 0.001) and cecal coccidia oocysts, alleviated intestinal damage and maintained the integrity of intestinal epithelium. Dietary supplementation with WER significantly improved antioxidant capacity, elevated the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A, and diminished inflammation within the cecum, particularly at a dosage of 200 mg/kg. The results of this study indicated that dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg WER could improve broiler growth performance and alleviate intestinal damage caused by coccidiosis.
Avian coccidiosis, a prevalent parasitic disease caused by Eimeria protozoa, leads to significant economic losses in the global poultry industry. Currently, the control of coccidiosis in chickens primarily relies on chemical and ionophore anticoccidials. However, the long-term use of these compounds has resulted in the development of drug-resistant strains, presenting a critical challenge. Additionally, the toxic and side effects of ionophore anticoccidials have become increasingly apparent. Thus, there is an urgent need to find economical and environmentally friendly measures to control coccidiosis in chickens. In this study, we established a model of Eimeria tenella infection in broilers to explore whether the water-soluble extract of rosemary (WER) could serve as an alternative method for controlling avian coccidiosis. Our results showed that dietary supplementation with WER (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) had a beneficial anticoccidial effect, alleviating intestinal damage caused by coccidiosis by enhancing the intestinal antioxidant defense and activating the immune function of the infected broilers. Specifically, dietary supplementation with 200 mg/kg WER emerged as a promising strategy for controlling avian coccidiosis in the poultry industry.