Anticoccidial Activity of Allium sativum and Punica granatum against Experimentally Induced Eimeria tenella Infection in Broiler Chickens

This study was conducted to evaluate effect of Allium sativum and Punica granatum against experimentally induced E. tenella infection in broiler chickens. A total of 80 one day old, broiler chickens were purchased and brooded in a deep litter pen. After acclimatization, the birds were allocated into 8 groups (1st to 8th group) separately housed; each group had two replicates hav­ing 5 birds. On 35th day of birds age (day 0 pre infection), birds were weighted individually; dropping samples were collected and after then all birds were infected orally with 36000 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella, oocyst/bird. On day 7 post infection, 1st & 2nd groups, 3rd & 4th groups, 5th & 6th groups received aqueous extracts of Punica granatum, Allium sativum, and Punica granatum & Allium sativum in combination at doses of (0.7 g/kg, 1.4 g/kg), (0.5 g/kg, 1 g/kg), (0.5 + 0.7 g/kg) and (1.4+ 1 g/kg) respectively for three successive days; while, 7th group given Amprolium at the dose of 1 gm/liter in drinking water and 8th group acts as negative control group and kept untreated. Anticoccidial effect of plant extracts was evaluated on the basis of clinical signs, body weight gain and oocysts counts in faeces. The clinical signs showed by experimental birds were weakness, reduced appetite, ruffled feathers and bloody diarrhea. However, these clinical signs were reduced or disappeared in treated groups. In general, the body weight gain was significantly (p < .05) increased in treated groups compared to control grou p. The higher body weight gain (BWG) value was recorded in 6th group (2624 ±251); whereas; the lower in 3rd group (2264 ±254) on day 21 post infection. Oocysts counts were significant (P ≤ 0.05) drop in treated groups from day 15 and researched the minimum level on day 21 post infection. The findings of the present study revealed that aqueous extracts of Allium sativum and Punica granatum exhibited anticoccidial activities against E. tenella infection in broiler chickens and this may be useful for controlling of E. tenella in poultry.