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Li S, Li S, Liu S, Lu S, Li J, Cheng S, Zhang S, Huang S, Li J, Jian F. Portulaca oleracea exhibited anti-coccidian activity, fortified the gut microbiota of Hu lambs. AMB Express 2024; 14:50. [PMID: 38700828 PMCID: PMC11068709 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-024-01705-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Coccidia of the genus Eimeria are important pathogens that cause coccidiosis in livestock and poultry. Due to the expansion of intensive farming, coccidiosis has become more difficult to control. In addition, the continued use of anti-coccidiosis drugs has led to drug resistance and residue. Some herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have been shown to alleviate the clinical symptoms of coccidiosis, while enhancing immunity and growth performance (GP) of livestock and poultry. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that the TCM herb Portulaca oleracea exhibited anti-parasitic activities. In total, 36 female Hu lambs were equally divided into six treatment groups: PL (low-dose P. oleracea), PH (high-dose P. oleracea), PW (P. oleracea water extract), PE (P. oleracea ethanol extract), DIC (diclazuril), and CON (control). The treatment period was 14 days. The McMaster counting method was used to evaluate the anti-coccidiosis effects of the different treatments. Untargeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to investigate the effects of treatment on the gut microbiota (GM) and GP. The results showed that P. oleracea ameliorated coccidiosis, improved GP, increased the abundances of beneficial bacteria, and maintained the composition of the GM, but failed to completely clear coccidian oocysts. The Firmicutes to Bacteroides ratio was significantly increased in the PH group. P. oleracea increased metabolism of tryptophan as well as some vitamins and cofactors in the GM and decreased the relative content of arginine, tryptophan, niacin, and other nutrients, thereby promoting intestinal health and enhancing GP. As an alternative to the anti-coccidiosis drug DIC, P. oleracea effectively inhibited growth of coccidia, maintained the composition of the GM, promoted intestinal health, and increased nutrient digestibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiheng Li
- College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Senyang Li
- College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Shuaiqi Liu
- College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shunli Lu
- College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Li
- College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqi Cheng
- College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Sumei Zhang
- College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shucheng Huang
- College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Junqiang Li
- College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuchun Jian
- College of Animal Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang Z, Li M, Tan Q, Chen J, Sun J, Li J, Sun L, Chen N, Song Q, Zhao X, Li H, Zhang X. A moderate anticoccidial effect of cedrol on Eimeria tenella in broiler chickens. Parasitol Int 2023; 97:102779. [PMID: 37451395 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2023.102779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
As drug-resistant strains of Eimeria have emerged and concerns about drug residues in poultry have grown, there is renewed interest in identifying natural alternatives to control coccidiosis. Cedrol, a natural sesquiterpene alcohol, was used in this study to test anticoccidial efficacy in chicks. Both the control and treatment groups were orally challenged with 2 × 104 oocysts per chicken. Chicks administered with cedrol had reduced oocyst count, an increase in the relative weight gain rate of chicks, and a decrease in severe swelling of the cecum. Based on the above, ACI was calculated and the cedrol group reached moderate anti-coccidial activity (169.34). In chickens treated with cedrol, there were no changes in serum biochemical parameters, but oxidative stress biomarkers and cytokine levels associated with anticoccidial response were altered. These changes suggest that the administered concentration of cedrol did not have any adverse effects on the chickens while enhancing their antioxidant capacity and immunity, leading to an improved anticoccidial ability. In conclusion, this study shows that the addition of cedrol in poultry production has an anticoccidial effect and successfully improves growth performance during the growth period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Muzi Li
- China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qing'dao, China
| | - Qianqian Tan
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Junpeng Chen
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Jinkun Sun
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Jinxuan Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Lingyu Sun
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Nianyuan Chen
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Qingyang Song
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China; Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China; Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China; Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China.
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Pham HHS, Matsubayashi M, Tsuji N, Hatabu T. Relationship between Eimeria tenella associated-early clinical signs and molecular changes in the intestinal barrier function. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2021; 240:110321. [PMID: 34520968 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2021.110321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The major clinical signs of coccidiosis in chickens due to Eimeria parasite are diarrhea and bloody feces. Previous studies showed that the impairment of the intestinal epithelial barrier and the elevation of the intestinal permeability are causes of clinical signs associated with coccidia challenges. Nevertheless, the information about molecular changes of the epithelial barrier at the early stage of the infection with a specific Eimeria species has not been mentioned. Hence, this study aims to elucidate the temporal relationships between epithelial barrier conditions and clinical signs in chickens infected with Eimeria tenella over the time from the earliest stages of infection. White Leghorn chickens were inoculated with 1 × 104 oocysts of E. tenella. Thereafter the chickens were monitored for their daily clinical signs through observation, and between 5 dpi to 10 dpi, feces were collected for oocysts counting. Chickens were then administrated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-d) for gastrointestinal permeability test and tissues were collected each day for histopathological observation and total RNA extraction. Finally, the mRNA expression levels of the tight and adherens junction genes and cytokine genes were evaluated using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In this study, clinical signs such as diarrhea and bloody feces were observed concurrently from 3 to 8 dpi. Histopathology changes such as severe inflammation, hemorrhage, and epithelial desquamation were identified in the cecum specimens. The FITC-d level in the E. tenella-infected group was significantly higher than in the control group. In the infected group, the expression of claudin-2 gene was also upregulated, whereas the expressions of claudin-3 and E-cadherin genes were decreased as compared to the control group. These results implied that clinical signs of avian coccidiosis were associated with the intestinal barrier disruption via changes in expression levels of claudins and E-cadherin at the intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Hoang Son Pham
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-Ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
| | - Makoto Matsubayashi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano, Osaka, 598-8531, Japan
| | - Naotoshi Tsuji
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Science, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, 252-0374, Japan
| | - Toshimitsu Hatabu
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-Ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
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