Control of avian coccidiosis: future and present natural alternatives

Anticoccidial activity of fruit peel of Punica granatum L

In the interests of food safety and public health, plants and their compounds are now re-emerging as an alternative approach to treat parasitic diseases. Here, we studied the anticoccidial effect of different solvent extracts of the fruit peel of Punica granatum-a commercial waste from pomegranate juice industries. The hope underlying these experiments was to find a sustainable natural product for controlling coccidiosis. The plant extracts were prepared using solvents of different polarity. Acute oral toxicity study was first carried out to see the safety of crude extracts. A high dose of crude extracts (300 mg/kg body weight) was tested for possession of anticoccidial activity against experimentally induced coccidial infection in broiler chicken. Activity was measured in comparison to the reference drug amprolium on the basis of oocyst output reduction, mean weight gain of birds and feed conversion ratio. Oocyst output was measured using Mc-Masters counting technique. Acute oral toxicity study showed that crude extracts of P. granatum are safe up to dosage of 2000 mg/kg body weight. LD⁵⁰ was not determined as mortalities were not recorded in any of the five groups of chicken. For anticoccidial activity crude methanolic extract (CME) of the fruit peel of P. granatum showed the maximum effect as evident by oocyst output reduction (92.8 ± 15.3), weight gain of birds (1403.0 ± 11.9 g) and feed conversion ratio (1.66 ± 0.04), thereby affirming the presence of alcohol soluble active ingredients in the plant. We also tested different doses (100-400 mg/kg body weight) of the CME of the fruit peel of P. granatum, the most active extract on E. tenella and observed a dose dependent effect. From the present study it can be concluded that alcoholic extract of the fruit peel of P. granatum has significant potential to contribute to the control of coccidian parasites of chicken.

Recent trends in common chemical feed and food contaminants in Israel

In February 2014 a new law was approved by the Israeli parliament, namely the Control of Animal Feed Law. The law intends to regulate the production and marketing of animal feed. In preparation for the law's implementation in 2017, we have assessed the current feed and food safety challenges in Israel in recent years in association with the presence of common undesirable contaminants in various common feed and food commodities. Tight collaboration between regulatory authorities and feed/food industry, enhanced feed and food quality monitoring, transparency of survey results and readily accessible and reliable information for the public about health hazards of chemical contaminants, will guarantee the safety and quality of food and feed.

Changes of cecal microflora in chickens following Eimeria tenella challenge and regulating effect of coated sodium butyrate

Eimeria tenella, one of the most important parasitic protozoa in the genus Eimeria, is responsible for chicken caecal coccidiosis resulting in huge economic losses to poultry industry. The present study investigated the changes in caecal microflora of E. tenella-infected chickens and the regulating effect of coated sodium butyrate, a potential alternative to antibiotics. Using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA V3-V4 region of bacteria we found significant changes in caecal microflora of E. tenella-infected chickens indicated by an increase of Firmicutes (mainly Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae and vadin BB60) and Proteobacteria (mainly Enterobacteriaceae) and a decrease of Bacteroidetes (predominantly Bacteroidaceae). Inclusion of coated sodium butyrate in the diet of chickens per se had no significant effect on caecal microflora of normal healthy chickens but significantly prevented the increase in Firmicute abundance and decrease of Bacteroidetes abundance in E. tenella-infected birds. No significant changes to caecal microflora were observed at the phylum level between control and E. tenella-infected birds given coated sodium butyrate. In conclusion, our results show that coated sodium butyrate can balance the disorders of cecal microflora caused by E. tenella; thus, it can be a useful supplement for the control of avian coccidiosis.

A simple and high-throughput method for determination and confirmation of 14 coccidiostats in poultry muscle and eggs using liquid chromatography - quadrupole linear ion trap - tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QqLIT-MS/MS): Validation according to European Union 2002/657/EC

A simple and fast quantitative and confirmatory multi-residue method was developed and validated for the determination of 14 coccidiostats residues in poultry muscle and eggs using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). The compounds were analyzed in a single run including lasalocid A, maduramicin, monensin, narasin, salinomycin, semduramicin, robenidine, diclazuril, toltrazuril, trimethoprim, clopidol, amprolium, diaveridine and nicarbazin (as the marker residue dinitrocarbanilide). A low-cost extraction and clean up procedure was optimized without the need of solid-phase extraction. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile followed by low-temperature clean up. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 column, using water and acetonitrile, both containing 5mmolL^-1 of formic acid and 1mmolL^-1 ammonium acetate, as mobile phase. Coccidiostats were ionized in negative and positive mode and monitored simultaneously. The method was fully validated according with Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and was applied for >100 samples from the Brazilian National Residue Control Plan (NRCP). Parameters as precision, reproducibility, trueness, CCα and CCβ were determined. Trueness values were within the range 73-115%. Precision (repeatability and intermediate precision) ranged from 0.4% to 21% and intralaboratory reproducibility ranged from 6.3% to 27%, depending on matrix.

Anticoccidial efficacy testing: In vitro Eimeria tenella assays as replacement for animal experiments

SCOPE

Availability of an accurate in vitro assay is a crucial demand to determine sensitivity of Eimeria spp. field strains toward anticoccidials routinely. In this study we tested in vitro models of Eimeria tenella using various polyether ionophores (monensin, salinomycin, maduramicin, and lasalocid) and toltrazuril. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC₉₅, MIC_50/95) for the tested anticoccidials were defined based on a susceptible reference (Houghton strain), Ref-1. In vitro sporozoite invasion inhibition assay (SIA) and reproduction inhibition assay (RIA) were applied on sensitive laboratory (Ref-1 and Ref-2) and field (FS-1, FS-2, and FS-3) strains to calculate percent of inhibition under exposure of these strains to the various anticoccidials (%I_SIA and%I_RIA, respectively). The in vitro data were related to oocyst excretion, lesion scores, performance, and global resistance indices (GI) assessed in experimentally infected chickens.

RESULTS

Polyether ionophores applied in the RIA were highly effective at MIC₉₅ against Ref-1 and Ref-2 (%I_RIA≥95%). In contrast, all tested field strains displayed reduced to low efficacy (%I_RIA<95%).%I_RIA values significantly correlated with oocyst excretion determined in the animal model (p<0.01) for polyether ionophores. However, this relationship could not be demonstrated for toltrazuril due to unexpected lack of in vitro sensitivity in Ref-2 (%I_RIA=56.1%). In infected chickens, toltrazuril was generally effective (GI>89%) against all strains used in this study. However, adjusted GI (GI_adj) for toltrazuril-treated groups exhibited differences between reference and field strains which might indicate varying sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

RIA is a suitable in vitro tool to detect sensitivity of E. tenella towards polyether ionophores, and may thus help to reduce, replace, or refine use of animal experimentation for in vivo sensitivity assays.

Artemisinin and its derivatives in treating protozoan infections beyond malaria

Parasitic protozoan diseases continue to rank among the world's greatest global health problems, which are also common among poor populations. Currently available drugs for treatment present drawbacks, urging the need for more effective, safer, and cheaper drugs. Artemisinin (ART) and its derivatives are some of the most important classes of antimalarial agents originally derived from Artemisia annua L. However, besides the outstanding antimalarial and antischistosomal activities, ART and its derivatives also possess activities against other parasitic protozoa. In this paper we review the activities of ART and its derivatives against protozoan parasites in vitro and in vivo, including Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Eimeria tenella, Acanthamoeba castellanii, Naegleria fowleri, Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, and Babesia spp. We conclude that ART and its derivatives may be good alternatives for treating other non-malarial protozoan infections in developing countries, although more studies are necessary before they can be applied clinically.

Herbal Remedies for Coccidiosis Control: A Review of Plants, Compounds, and Anticoccidial Actions

Coccidiosis is the bane of the poultry industry causing considerable economic loss. Eimeria species are known as protozoan parasites to cause morbidity and death in poultry. In addition to anticoccidial chemicals and vaccines, natural products are emerging as an alternative and complementary way to control avian coccidiosis. In this review, we update recent advances in the use of anticoccidial phytoextracts and phytocompounds, which cover 32 plants and 40 phytocompounds, following a database search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Four plant products commercially available for coccidiosis are included and discussed. We also highlight the chemical and biological properties of the plants and compounds as related to coccidiosis control. Emphasis is placed on the modes of action of the anticoccidial plants and compounds such as interference with the life cycle of Eimeria, regulation of host immunity to Eimeria, growth regulation of gut bacteria, and/or multiple mechanisms. Biological actions, mechanisms, and prophylactic/therapeutic potential of the compounds and extracts of plant origin in coccidiosis are summarized and discussed.

Field trial of medicinal plant, Bidens pilosa, against eimeriosis in broilers

Eimeriosis is a severe protozoan disease in poultry. Because of increasing concern about drug residue and drug resistance with the use of anticoccidial drugs, natural products are emerging as an alternative and complementary approach to control avian eimeriosis. Our previous publication showed that feed supplemented with B. pilosa (BP) was effective at combating chicken eimeriosis in experimental settings. However, its efficacy against chicken eimeriosis under field conditions is not known. Here, we investigated the efficacy of BP against eimeriosis on an organic chicken farm. We found that feed supplemented with BP, at the dose of 0.025% of feed or more, significantly reduced Eimeria infection. This treatment increased body weight gain and reduced feed conversion ratio, leading to superior growth performance. It lowered morbidity/mortality rate, decreased oocysts per gram of feces and gut pathology and augmented the anticoccidial index. Collectively, these data demonstrated the potential of BP to control chicken eimeriosis on chicken farms. BP can, therefore, be used as an effective means to control eimeriosis.

Impact of Meyerozyma guilliermondii isolated from chickens against Eimeria sp. protozoan, an in vitro analysis

Background

Avian coccidiosis is a disease caused worldwide by several species of parasite Eimeria that causes significant economic losses. This disease affects chickens development and production, that most of times is controlled with anticoccidial drugs. Although efforts have been made to address this disease, they have been made to control Eimeria sporozoites, although enteric stages are often vulnerable, however; the parasite oocyst remains a problem that must be controlled, as it has a resistant structure that facilitates dispersion. Despite some commercial products based on chemical compounds have been developed as disinfectants that destroy oocysts, the solution of the problem remains to be solved.

Results

In this work, we assessed in vitro anticoccidial activity of a compound(s) secreted by yeast isolated in oocysts suspension from infected chickens. The yeast was molecularly identified as Meyerozyma guilliermondii, and its anticoccidial activity against Eimeria tenella oocysts was assessed. Here, we report the damage to oocysts walls caused by M. guilliermondii culture, supernatant, supernatant extract and intracellular proteins. In all cases, a significant decreased of oocysts was observed.

Conclusions

The yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii secretes a compound with anticoccidial activity and also has a compound of protein nature that damages the resistant structure of oocyst, showing the potential of this yeast and its products as a feasible method of coccidiosis control.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0589-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.