S-Methylcysteine Ameliorates the Intestinal Damage Induced by Eimeria tenella Infection via Targeting Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Modulators

Effects of prebiotic (lactoferrin) and diclazuril on broiler chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella

Introduction

Avian coccidiosis presents a significant challenge to the poultry industry in Egypt, highlighting the urgent need for validating new drug targets offering promising prospects for the development of advanced anticoccidials. Although numerous reports highlight the activity of lactoferrin (LF) against various microorganisms, its potential against Eimeria has not been explored. The present study evaluated the potential anticoccidial effect of LF and diclazuril in broiler chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella.

Methods

A total of 100 one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into five equal groups (20 each) as follows: Group 1 (G1) served as the normal healthy control group, Group 2 (G2) consisted of chickens infected with 1 × 105 sporulated E. tenella oocysts at 14 days of age, Group 3 (G3) comprised infected chickens treated with diclazuril (0.5 mL/L in drinking water) for 3 days successively, Group 4 (G4) included infected chickens treated with LF (at a dose of 250 mg/kg of diet) from one day of age until the end of the study, and Group 5 (G5) comprised infected chickens treated with both LF and diclazuril.

Results

The positive control group (G2) experienced significant reductions in body weight (BW), BW gain, serum glucose, lipase, amylase, total antioxidant capacity, several hematological indices, and total proteins, along with alterations in various antioxidant enzymes. Conversely, serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatases (ALP), urea, creatinine, nitric oxide, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), White blood cells (WBCs), heterophils, alpha 2, beta 1, and liver contents of malondialdehyde were elevated in this group. Moreover, higher oocyst counts and lesion scores, along with histopathological alterations, were observed in G2. Remarkably, treatment with diclazuril and/or LF demonstrated potent antioxidant and anticoccidial effects, resulting in reduced shedding of oocysts, lesion scores, and lymphocytic infiltrates in the cecum. Additionally, these treatments improved the antioxidant and immune systems in chickens and restored all histopathological changes reported in the infected non-treated group (G2).

Conclusion

This study offers novel perspectives on the potential anticoccidial effects of the combination of LF and diclazuril in broiler chickens infected with E. tenella, highlighting the potential synergistic actions of LF in treating poultry coccidiosis.

Krameria lappacea root extract's anticoccidial properties and coordinated control of CD4 T cells for IL-10 production and antioxidant monitoring

Introduction

Recently, the use of botanicals as an alternative to coccidiostats has been an appealing approach for controlling coccidiosis. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential role of aqueous methanolic extract (200 mg/kg) of Krameria lappacea (roots) (KLRE) against infection induced by Eimeria papillata.

Methods

A total of 25 male C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups (I, II, III, IV, and V). On 1st day of the experiment, all groups except groups I (control) and II (non-infected-treated group with KLRE), were inoculated orally with 103 sporulated E. papillata oocysts. On the day of infection, group IV was treated with KLRE. Group V served as an infected-treated group and was treated with amprolium (coccidiostat).

Results

Treatment with extract and coccidiostat was continued for five consecutive days. While not reaching the efficacy level of the reference drug (amprolium), KLRE exhibited notable anticoccidial activity as assessed by key criteria, including oocyst suppression rate, total parasitic stages, and maintenance of nutrient homeostasis. The presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in KLRE is thought to be responsible for its positive effects. The Eimeria infection increased the oxidative damage in the jejunum. KLRE treatment significantly increased the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase. On the contrary, KLRE decreased the level of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide. Moreover, KLRE treatment decreased macrophage infiltration in the mice jejunal tissue, as well as the extent of CD4 T cells and NFkB. E. papillata caused a state of systemic inflammatory response as revealed by the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs)-mRNA. Upon treatment with KLRE, the activity of iNOs was reduced from 3.63 to 1.46 fold. Moreover, KLRE was able to downregulate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ, nuclear factor kappa B, and interleukin-10 -mRNA by 1.63, 1.64, and 1.38 fold, respectively. Moreover, KLRE showed a significant reduction in the expression of IL-10 protein level from 104.27 ± 8.41 pg/ml to 62.18 ± 3.63 pg/ml.

Conclusion

Collectively, K. lappacea is a promising herbal medicine that could ameliorate the oxidative stress and inflammation of jejunum, induced by E. papillata infection in mice.

Potential Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) on the Performance, Immunity, Gut Health, Anti-Oxidant Status, Blood Parameters, and Intestinal Microbiota of Poultry: An Updated Comprehensive Review

The use of antibiotics as growth promoters or for the prevention of some poultry diseases has faced global concern and serious criticism. Their addition to poultry feed has shown hazardous effects, including the development of antimicrobial resistance and a potentially harmful effect on human health. To eliminate these threats, there is increasing interest in natural alternatives. Plant derivatives such as garlic (Allium sativum L.) and its derivatives are presently extensively used in the poultry production system. The dietary supplementation of broilers and layers with garlic induced improvement in the production parameters, carcass quality, and intestinal integrity. The modulation of the immune response against some important viral diseases has resulted from the supplementation of poultry with garlic. Moreover, garlic has been shown to modulate gut health through antibacterial and antiparasitic activities. Treatment with garlic can also mitigate oxidative stress and reduce free-radical production. The reduction of cholesterol levels and improvement of some liver and blood parameters were also reported following the dietary inoculation of garlic. This review was designed to investigate the influence of garlic as a dietary additive on the performance, immunity, gut health, anti-oxidant status, blood parameters, and intestinal microbiota of poultry.

Effects of dietary water-soluble extract of rosemary supplementation on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers infected with Eimeria tenella

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.

Management and control of coccidiosis in poultry - A review

Poultry coccidiosis is an intestinal infection caused by an intracellular parasitic protozoan of the genus Eimeria. Coccidia-induced gastrointestinal inflammation results in large economic losses, hence finding methods to decrease its prevalence is critical for industry participants and academic researchers. It has been demonstrated that coccidiosis can be effectively controlled and managed by employing anticoccidial chemical compounds. However, as a result of their extensive use, anticoccidial drug resistance in Eimeria species has raised concerns. Phytochemical/herbal medicines (Artemisia annua, Bidens pilosa, and garlic) seem to be a promising strategy for preventing coccidiosis, in accordance with the "anticoccidial chemical-free" standards. The impact of herbal supplements on poultry coccidiosis is based on the reduction of oocyst output by preventing the proliferation and growth of Eimeria species in chicken gastrointestinal tissues and lowering intestinal permeability via increased epithelial turnover. This review provides a thorough up-to-date assessment of the state of the art and technologies in the prevention and treatment of coccidiosis in chickens, including the most used phytochemical medications, their mode of action, and the applicable legal framework in the European Union.

Chicken -defensin-1 peptide as a candidate anticoccidial agent in broiler chickens

The current study aimed to investigate the potentiality of using avian β-defensin-1 peptide as a candidate agent against coccidiosis infection in broiler chicken.We employed an in-silico analysis to study the primary structure of β-defensin-1 peptide as well as its 3-D and molecular dynamic structures. This will also enable obtaining adequate information about the mode of action of these peptides and the intra-cellular transduction pathways. The results revealed no significant difference among groups of broiler chicken in terms of body weight before the Eimeria challenge.The results of our study indicated a significant reduction in oocyst count in birds administered β-defensin-1 peptide treatment, vis-a-vis healthy birds. The treated group showed a 2-3 times reduction in oocyst count, compared to the positive control group. The Eimeria oocysts count evaluated for birds administered with β-defensin-1 after the Eimeria challenge showed a significant difference. The study indicated significant reduction and down-regulation in the level of expression of β-defensin 1 and 4 in the control and treatment groups.This electrostatic profile and hydrophobicity regulate the functioning of this peptide. The results may help in the development of novel approaches that could be used as alternatives or adjunct to the existing means of coccidiosis control in broilers.

Anticoccidial effects of tannin-based herbal formulation (Artemisia annua, Quercus infectoria, and Allium sativum) against coccidiosis in broilers

Background

Avian coccidiosis is considered among the infectious disease of high cost in the poultry industry. Herbal extracts are safe and reliable substitute anticoccidial drugs for chemical feed additives as they do not sequel to drug resistance and tissue remnants.

Objective

The current study aimed to assess the anticoccidial effect of an herbal complex of 3 plants (Artemisia annua, Quercus infectoria, and Allium sativum) in broiler chickens compared to toltrazuril anticoccidial.

Methods

This experiment used one hundred twenty broiler chickens and divided them into four equally numbered groups. All the groups, except group (D), were experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria spp. (E. tenella, E. maxima, E. necatrix and E. brunetti) on day 14. Group (A) was treated with a herbal mixture, containing 75% Quercus infectoria with a minimum of 30% total tannin, 16% Artemisia annua with a minimum of 0.02% artemisinin, and 9% Allium sativum with a minimum of 0.4% total phenol contents. Group (B) was treated with toltrazuril. Group (C) did not have any treatment. Group (D) was healthy all the experiment period as a negative control group. During a 42-day breeding period, the study examined clinical signs, weight gains, feed conversion ratio, lesions scoring, casualties, and the number of oocysts in different bird groups.

Results

Group (D) showed the most significant weight gain, indicating the economic damage caused by coccidiosis. The best feed conversion ratio was observed in the unchallenged group, and coccidiosis negatively affected it in other groups. Clinical signs of dysentery, diarrhea, and lethargy were seen post-challenge but improved with treatment. Group (D) showed no losses; others had casualties and coccidiosis lesions. Lesion scores were lowest in the group (D), and the herbal mixture improved performance. The herbal mixture and toltrazuril reduced oocyst counts in feces earlier than the untreated group.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the anticoccidial activity of the mentioned herbal complex recommends its use as an alternative anticoccidial agent to chemotherapeutic drugs for controlling coccidiosis.

Persea americana extract protects intestinal tissue from Eimeria papillata-induced murine Infection

Coccidiosis is the most prevalent disease-causing widespread economic loss among farm and domestic animals. Currently, several drugs are available for the control of this disease but resistance has been confirmed for all of them. There is an urgent need, therefore, for the identification of new sources as alternative treatments to control coccidiosis. The present work aimed to study the effect of the Persea americana extract (PAE) as an anti-coccidial, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic modulator during murine intestinal Eimeria papillata infection. A total of 25 male mice were divided into five groups, as follows: Group1: Non-infected-non-treated (negative control), Group2: Non-infected-treated group with PAE (500 mg/kg b.w). Group3: Infected-non-treated (positive control), Group4: Infected-treated group with PAE (500 mg/kg b.w.), and Group5: Infected-treated group with Amprolium (120 mg/kg b.w.). Groups (3-5) were orally inoculated with 1 × 103 sporulated E. papillata oocysts. After 60 min of infection, groups (4 and 5) were treated for 5 consecutive days with the recommended doses of PAE and amprolium. The fact that PAE has an anti-coccidial efficacy against intestinal E. papillata infection in mice has been clarified by the reduction of fecal oocyst output on the 5th day post-infection by about 85.41%. Moreover, there is a significant reduction in the size of each parasite stage in the jejunal tissues of the infected-treated group with PAE. PAE counteracted the E. papillata-induced loss of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (TCA). E. papillata infection also induced an increase in the apoptotic cells expressed by caspase-3 which modulated after PAE treatment. Moreover, the mRNA expression of the goblet cell response gene, mucin (MUC2), was upregulated from 0.50 to 1.20-fold after treatment with PAE. Based on our results, PAE is a promising medicinal plant with anti-coccidial, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic activities and could be used as a food additive.

Pharmacological Effects of Grape Leaf Extract Reduce Eimeriosis-Induced Inflammation, Oxidative Status Change, and Goblet Cell Response in the Jejunum of Mice

Coccidiosis is a parasitic infection threatening poultry products globally. Parasite resistance to drugs is one of the barriers to Eimeria control. Natural products are one of the sources of compounds that prevent parasite infections. The current study was, therefore, conducted to evaluate the effect of Vitis vinifera leaf extract on anti-inflammatory response, oxidative status, and goblet cell response against Eimeria papillate infection in mice. Methanol was used as a solvent for phytochemicals. The mice were divided into six groups: The first group was the control. The second group was uninfected and treated with 200 mg/kg of extract to test toxicity, and the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth groups of mice received 1 × 10³ sporulated E. papillate oocysts. The third group received no treatment. The fourth and fifth groups were treated daily with 100 and 200 mg/kg of V. vinifera leaf extract, respectively, while the sixth group received 25 mg/kg of toltrazuril daily via gavage. On day 5 p.i., the animals were sacrificed, and jejunum samples were prepared for analyses of histological sections and oxidative stress. The phytochemical analysis using GC-MS of the extract showed the presence of 12 biologically active compounds. The most effective dose was 200 mg/kg, which significantly decreased the number of parasitic stages in the jejunal sections of the mice. The findings demonstrate that E. papillate infection in mice results in significant histopathological changes in the jejunum, including inflammation, epithelial vacuolation, villi loss, and a decrease in goblet cell density. When infected mice received treatment, the histological injury score within the infected jejunum tissue decreased by 63%, and the goblet cell quantity dramatically increased, approaching the control values. Finally, the extract ameliorated the changes in glutathione and malondialdehyde due to E. papillate infection. The extract was proven to have anti-inflammatory properties and reduce the number of oocysts. Overall, the findings show that V. vinifera leaf extract has significant anticoccidial effects in vivo.

Evaluation of therapeutic effects of an herbal mixture (Echinacea purpurea and Glycyrrhiza glabra) for treatment of clinical coccidiosis in broilers

BACKGROUND

Avian coccidiosis is thought to be one of the most expensive infectious diseases in the poultry industry.

OBJECTIVES

Safe and alternative anti-coccidial drugs are herbal extracts because they do not result in tissue residue and drug resistance. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-coccidial effect of the herbal mixture, a complex of two plants (Echinacea purpurea, Glycyrrhiza glabra) in broiler chickens in comparison with toltrazuril.

METHODS

One hundred twenty broiler chickens were used in this experiment and divided into 4 equally numbered groups. All the groups, except Group D, were experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria spp. (E. Tenella, E. maxima, E. necatrix and E. brunetti) on day 14. Group A treated with an herbal mixture [Glycyrrhiza glabra Extract 5% (standardised to 5.4% glycyrrhizic acid) and Echinacea purpurea Extract 2% (standardised to 4% total phenolic content based on chlorogenic acid); Coxinin-EC^® ; Shamim Teb Sepid Giti]. Group B treated with toltrazuril. Group C was experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria spp. but they did not have any treatment, this group was our positive control. Performance indices, faecal oocyst excretion, and intestinal lesion score were determined during the experiment.

RESULTS

Positive control group had the poorest results and more mortality than other groups. Group D was not infected and was healthy all the experiment period. Treatment with herbal complex significantly reduced the negative performance and pathogenic effects associated with Eimeria spp. at a level that was comparable with toltrazuril.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the anti-coccidial activity of the studied herbal complex suggests its use as an alternative anti-coccidial agent to chemotherapeutic drugs for controlling coccidiosis in poultry.

HIGHLIGHTS

-Coccidiosis is an important infectious disease that causes serious financial loss to the poultry industry. -Chemical anti-coccidial drugs and vaccines are the main control strategies to combat the disease. However, these tools have some constraints. -Herbal remedies are suitable alternatives to chemical compounds for control of losses associated with coccidiosis in poultry. -An herbal mixture (Echinacea purpurea, Glycyrrhiza glabra) has promising effects for controlling of coccidiosis in broiler chickens.

Validation of traditional claims of anti-arthritic efficacy of trans-Himalayan snow mountain garlic (Allium ampeloprasum L.) extract using adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model: A comparative evaluation with normal garlic (Allium sativum L.) and dexamethasone

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Snow Mountain Garlic (SMG) (Allium ampeloprasum L.) is a wild trans-Himalayan member of the genus Allium, valued for its anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties in the mountain folk medicinal system (Sowa-Rigpa). Despite its age-old medicinal usage by traditional therapists and the native population for various ailments including rheumatism, there is no scientific validation of its phyto-pharmaceutical merits.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present pre-clinical study compared the in-vivo anti-arthritic effects of SMG with reported efficacy doses of normal garlic (Allium sativum L.) extract and dexamethasone in a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The female Wistar rats were immunized by the subplannter injection of CFA into the right hind footpad. Aqueous extracts of SMG and normal garlic were administered orally at a dose of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg for 28 days. Dexamethasone was used as positive control drug. Behavioral parameters including paw markers, arthritis index, joint stiffness, body weight change, etc. were measured. Also, the changes in histopathological indices, hematological profile, inflammatory mediators, and serum cytokines level was determined.

RESULTS

Treatment of rats with SMG extracts significantly (p < 0.001) prevented the reduction in body weight and hematological changes as well as ameliorated clinical symptoms such as arthritic index, joint stiffness, arthritis score, edema, hyperalgesia, and histopathological indices. This was associated with a significant reduction in the serum levels of RF, CRP, anti-CCP, and proinflammatory cytokines exhibiting strong anti-arthritic potential. SMG extracts could also significantly down regulate the NF-κB, COX-2, and iNOS expression in the ankle joint tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study is the first attempt to validate the phyto-pharmaceutical efficacy of this folk garlic variety from the trans-Himalayan region. Overall, SMG extract showed remarkable preventive anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities which were closely comparable to therapeutic effects of dexamethasone and at par or even better than normal garlic w.r.t. several study parameters.

Nano-encapsulation of halofuginone hydrobromide enhances anticoccidial activity against Eimeria tenella in chickens

Coccidiosis is a worldwide epidemic intestinal disease with high incidence, which causes huge economic losses. Halofuginone hydrobromide (HF) is widely applied as an effective anticoccidial drug in the poultry industry. However, its therapeutic efficacy is severely restrained due to toxic effects, poor aqueous solubility and low permeability. Nanotechnology can improve the biological effect of drugs, and thus, reduce administered doses and toxic effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic and preventive potential of novel HF-loaded D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) polymer micelles (HTPM) for preventing coccidiosis in chickens. The HTPM were approximately spherical with a hydrodynamic diameter of 12.65 ± 0.089 nm, a zeta potential of 8.03 ± 0.242 mV, a drug loading of 14.04 ± 0.12%, and an encapsulation efficiency of 71.1 ± 4.15%. HF was encapsulated in the polymer micelles through interactions with TPGS, as characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Cellular take up assays showed that TPGS polymer micelles could enhance drug internalization to alleviate intestinal apoptosis induced by coccidiosis and promote the necrosis of second-generation merozoites of E. tenella. Notably, clinical trials proved that 1.5 mg L^-1 HTPM had a stronger anticoccidial effect on E. tenella than that of 3 mg kg^-1 HF premix. Amplicon sequencing identified that HTPM could alleviate coccidiosis by restoring the structure of the gut microbiome. These findings indicated that the anticoccidial efficacy of HF was significantly enhanced after being encapsulated in polymer micelles, and further demonstrated the potential protective application of nano-encapsulating anticoccidial drugs as a promising approach to control coccidiosis in poultry. In summary, HTPM hold huge potential as an effective therapeutic agent for coccidiosis.

Biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles to rescue coccidiosis-mediated oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation in the jejunum of mice

One of the most crucial approaches for treating human diseases, particularly parasite infections, is nanomedicine. One of the most significant protozoan diseases that impact farm and domestic animals is coccidiosis. While, amprolium is one of the traditional anticoccidial medication, the advent of drug-resistant strains of Eimeria necessitates the development of novel treatments. The goal of the current investigation was to determine whether biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles (Bio-SeNPs) using Azadirachta indica leaves extract might treat mice with Eimeria papillata infection in the jejunal tissue. Five groups of seven mice each were used, as follows: Group 1: Non-infected-non-treated (negative control). Group 2: Non-infected treated group with Bio-SeNPs (0.5 mg/kg of body weight). Groups 3-5 were orally inoculated with 1×10³ sporulated oocysts of E. papillata. Group 3: Infected-non-treated (positive control). Group 4: Infected and treated group with Bio-SeNPs (0.5 mg/kg). Group 5: Infected and treated group with the Amprolium. Groups 4 and 5 daily received oral administration (for 5 days) of Bio-SeNPs and anticoccidial medication, respectively, after infection. Bio-SeNPs caused a considerable reduction in oocyst output in mice feces (97.21%). This was also accompanied by a significant reduction in the number of developmental parasitic stages in the jejunal tissues. Glutathione reduced (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were dramatically reduced by the Eimeria parasite, whereas, nitric oxide (NO) and malonaldehyde (MDA) levels were markedly elevated. The amount of goblet cells and MUC2 gene expression were used as apoptotic indicators, and both were considerably downregulated by infection. However, infection markedly increased the expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) and the apoptotic genes (Caspase-3 and BCL2). Bio-SeNPs were administrated to mice to drastically lower body weight, oxidative stress, and inflammatory and apoptotic indicators in the jejunal tissue. Our research thus showed the involvement of Bio-SeNPs in protecting mice with E. papillata infections against jejunal damage.

Comparative Effect of Allicin and Alcoholic Garlic Extract on the Morphology and Infectivity of Eimeria tenella Oocysts in Chickens

Avian coccidiosis remains one of the major parasitic diseases that threaten the global poultry industry. Since prevention is superior to treatment, this study focuses on eliminating the infection outside the host. To determine their effect on the viability of Eimeria tenella oocysts in vitro, allicin and alcoholic garlic extract, which are natural, less toxic, and inexpensive products, were compared to KOH 5% (chemical disinfectant) using an in vitro culture system. Three concentrations of allicin (45, 90, and 180 mg/mL) and alcoholic garlic extract (90, 180, and 360 mg/mL, were used. Subsequently, destructive and sporulation-inhibiting effects on Eimeria oocysts were detected using light and electron microscopy. Young chickens were infected with treated sporulated oocysts to determine their effect on infectivity. After 7 days pi, the percentage of excreted oocysts (oocyst shedding) was determined, and the chickens were slaughtered for histopathological examination of the cecal tissues. Under an electron microscope, allicin at a concentration of 180 mg/mL and alcoholic garlic extract at a concentration of 360 mg/mL demonstrate a high oocysticidal activity with severe destruction of the oocyst wall and the appearance of pores. In addition, both concentrations directly affected the infectivity of sporulated oocysts by reducing the shedding of oocysts and the pathological lesions of infected young chickens. We concluded that the ability of Allicin and alcoholic garlic extract to eliminate Eimeria oocysts makes them superior to chemical disinfectants as a disinfectant.

Acaricidal Properties of Four Neem Seed Extracts (Azadirachta indica) on the Camel Tick Hyalomma dromedarii (Acari: Ixodidae)

Tick infestation remains one of the major health problems that affect the productivity and comfort of camels. The control of ticks mainly relies on using chemical acaracides. Limited information is available on the potential benefits and activity of various neem extracts on Hyalomma ticks. The present study investigated the acaricidal activity of neem seed extracts at different concentrations against developmental stages of the camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii in comparison to Butox and diazinon. The acaricidal activity of three extracts, namely, hexane extract (HE), methyl chloride extract (MCE), and methanol extract (ME), of neem seeds (Azadirachta indica) were tested at varying concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20% on engorged H. dromedarii female ticks at days 1, 3, 5, 7, 12, 16, 20, 28, 37, and 43 after treatment (DPT). Interestingly, results of applying different neem seed extracts to engorged H. dromedarii female ticks showed that the most effective extract was hexane at concentration 20%, causing 100% mortality at 1st day post-application, while methanol extract at 20% and dichloromethane extract at 20% caused the death of all ticks at 28th day posttreatment as compared to Butox® 5.0 and Diazinon-60, which resulted in mortality of all ticks at 3 and 5 DPT, respectively. In addition, no mortality was reported with the application of aqueous extract (AE), which served as the control group. Furthermore, the neem hexane extract exhibited high efficacy against reproductive performance of female ticks, whereas no fertility or oviposition was reported at all of their concentrations. Additionally, no hatchability occurred using all neem extracts, except the aqueous extract, which showing no effect. In the present study, larvae responded more rapidly to the plant extracts, whereas mortality of all larvae was recorded at 24 h after treatment with 5% hexane. Taken together, this study pointed out that the acaricidal effect of hexane extract of neem seeds was more effective and could be economically used for controlling H. dromedarii ticks.