Evaluation the Anticoccidial Efficacy of Oregano Oil and Allicin against Eimeria tenella in Experimentally Infected Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Cecal coccidiosis is a significant parasitic disease that affects poultry farms and iscaused by Eimeria tenella. This study evaluated the anticoccidial efficacy of oregano oiland allicin against Eimeria tenella in experimentally infected broiler chickens. Onehundred and twenty-one-day-old chicks were divided into six groups (20 chicks in eachgroup): G1, non-infected non-treated (control negative group); G2, the infected nontreated (control positive group); G3 was treated with amprolium; G4 was treated withoregano oil, G5 was treated with allicin, andG6was treated with a mixed dose of oreganooil and allicin. All groups were challenged with 104 Eimeria tenella sporulated oocysts atthe 5th day old except the first group (G1). Body weight (B.W), food conversion rate(FCR), oocyst count, hematology, serum biochemical parameters, and histopathologywere assessed throughout the experiment in all groups. Oregano oil and allicinsignificantly improved B.W., FCR, lesion score, and oocyst count. Additionally,histopathology showed that the oregano oil and allicin successfully treated the cecumthoroughly; the cecum was average in its histology with the absence of E. tenelladevelopmental stages. In conclusion, this study proved that oregano oil and allicin havea protective and curative effect as anti-coccidial drugs of plant origin on E. tenellainfected chickens. Furthermore, the mixture of the two chemicals is a promising treatment for E. tenella infection in broiler chickens.