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The dynamics of coccidia infection in young rabbits within experimental groups, during the fattening
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Two simultaneous experiments were carried out in a breeding farm of New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domesticus) to determine the feasibility of replacing coccidiostats with garlic and oregano preparation. The research took place during June and July, the period of the greatest threat of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. (Apicom...
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Context 1
... the animals were found to be infected with coccidia. Through the whole period of fattening, the mildest course of infection was demonstrated for young rabbits of herbal group D, and Baycox group B (Fig. 1), with Eimeria sp. infection ranging from 460 to 20260 OPG in group D, and from 760 to 20000 OPG in group B. The oocyst counts of the young rabbits in group C, robenidine, ranged from 580 to 34220 OPG, whereas the highest counts were found in rabbits without anticoccidial drugs in their feed (Group A) (840-49740 ...
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Background
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Citations
... Most coccidia research is focused on poultry because of its economic importance [10], whereas rabbit coccidiosis does not receive similar attention. In fattening rabbits fed with garlic-oregano mixtures as a feed additive, reduced oocyst excretion compared to rabbits fed with coccidiostat additives or non-supplemented feed were repeatedly observed [40,41]. The same results were observed when oregano was administered to weaned rabbits via drinking water [26,27]. ...
... Compared to numerous other fattening rabbit studies with natural Eimeria infections [2,40,41,45], the excretion maxima determined in the present study are quite high. However, a few studies are available with even higher opg values of up to more than 400,000 opg in fattening rabbits [46,47]. ...
... Diclazuril and oregano oil supplementation in the compound feed did not significantly reduce Eimeria oocyst excretion compared to that of the control group. Nosal et al. [41] compared a diet supplemented with garlic and oregano extracts, and a diet supplemented with the coccidiostat robenidine, to a control diet in growing rabbits. They found the lowest opg values for the rabbits fed the herbal additives, but did not mention any significancies. ...
For years, there has been an increasing interest in natural alternatives to the conventional coccidiostats applied as feed additives, which have been used for decades to prevent coccidiosis in poultry and fattening rabbits. This study aimed to compare the possible anticoccidial effects of oregano oil to the established substance diclazuril in growing rabbits. The control group (CG) received a non-supplemented basal compound feed, to which either diclazuril (1 mg/kg; DG) or oregano oil (75 mg/kg; OG) was added. In each of the three trials, subgroups of 50 rabbits each were assigned to one of the three experimental groups (CG, DG and OG). Natural Eimeria infection was monitored weekly by fecal oocyst counts and Eimeria species identification following sporulation. Additionally, the performance parameters were determined at the middle and the end of the trials, and the deceased rabbits were subjected to necropsy. Neither oocyst excretion nor the performance parameters differed significantly between the three experimental groups. Eimeria media, Eimeria magna, Eimeria perforans and Eimeria exigua were identified as the occurring species. The highest animal losses (16.0%) occurred in the OG, while the losses were 12.7% in the DG and 12.0% in the CG. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Overall, neither diclazuril nor oregano oil was superior to the non-supplemented feed. This underlines the importance of diagnostics, as this study’s results indicate that in the absence of the highly pathogenic Eimeria species, economic rabbit rearing and fattening is achievable without the use of coccidiostats.
... 109,110 Oregano essential oil had an anticoccidial influence on broiler chickens, while oregano herbal extract had a positive impact on rabbits' resistance and production. 111 According to studies conducted by Hussain et al. (2011), oregano essential oil has antimalarial properties and was efficacious against Trypanosoma cruzi. [112][113][114][115] Therapeutic uses Origanum vulgare L. has traditionally been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, urinary tract disorders, dermatological affections, and disorders of the respiratory tract, including cough and bronchial catarrh (as expectorants and spasmolytic agents), as well as disorders of the urinary tract (as a diuretic and antiseptic). ...
The Lamiaceae family is of great diversity and variety, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Plants in this family are characterized by verticillaster inflorescence, two-lipped open-mouthed tubular corolla, opposite decussate leaves, quadrangular stem, etc. Most of the species belonging to the family are aromatic and possess essential oils. Origanum vulgare L., also known as Vantulsi or Badri tulsi, is an important herb that is commonly used for it’s aromatic properties. Oregano's leaves and flowering parts contain essential oil glands that produce volatile oil, which is what gives the plant its fragrance. Carvacrol and/or thymol make up the majority of the essential oil of Oregano, with γ-terpenine, p-cymene, linalool, terpenine 4-ol, and sabinene hydrate. These constituents are primarily responsible for the oil's antiviral, antiseptic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, anticoagulant, and energetic action properties. In this review article, we shed light on the origin, distribution, botanical description, cytological and breeding studies, essential oil and its constituents, biological activities, cultivation practices and therapeutic values of Origanum vulgare L.
... Elsewhere, the administration of the methanolic extract to treated rabbits enhanced catalase and peroxidase profiles, dose dependently, by acting as a strong free radical quencher and protecting the tissues [35]. Peroxidase and catalase are essential for the endogenous antioxidative defense system to scavenge reactive oxygen species and maintain the cellular redox balance [36]. ...
... The observed decrease in SOD activity following infection and treatment with different doses of plant extract might be due to the oxidation of CAT and GSH-Px enzymes. In agreement with our study, Pawel et al. [36] showed a decrease in SOD and CAT activities in infected rats compared to control rats. Farombi et al. [35] suggested that superoxide radicals by themselves, or after their transformation to hydrogen peroxide, caused oxidation of CAT and GSH-Px enzymes and thus decreases SOD activity. ...
Purpose: Oxidative stress is responsible for over seventy five diseases and other harmful cytological challenges including cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, lipid peroxidation, distortion of cell membrane integrity, shortening of telomerase among others. Antioxidant potency of any plant is a very positive remedy to the debilitating effects of prooxidants and oxidants. The study was aimed at investigating the antioxidant potency of methanol extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla stem bark- in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Different phytochemicals were determined using standard methods. Nitric oxide, 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing/anti-radical power were used to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activity. Catalase assay, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase were used to determine the in vivo antioxidant efficacy using six groups of five rats. Results: The result showed various quantities of phytochemicals, including antioxidant phytochemicals-flavonoids, tannins and total phenolics. The in vitro assay showed that 250 μg/ml of extract had the highest percentage inhibition of DPPH radical (93.93%). The 125 μg/ml had the highest scavenging activity of nitric oxide radical (49.47%) while 250μg/ml showed the least with 41.73%. Other methods showed various degrees of activity. The in vivo antioxidant showed that the principal mechanism of antioxidant activity is by modulating the iron-dependent catalase activity. Conclusion: Pentaclethra macrophylla has both in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities and therefore is useful in ameliorating the debilitating effects of oxidants.
... There are many important bioactive and antimicrobial compounds found in natural feed additives. They have a positive effect on growth performance [7][8][9][10], feed efficiency [11][12][13][14] immunological status [15][16][17], reproduction [18][19][20][21] and gut microflora [17,[22][23][24] in rabbits. Additionally, incorporating some natural feed additives into rabbit's diets can help to mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress [25][26][27][28][29]. ...
Heat stress is a major challenge to animal production in tropical and subtropical climates. Rabbits suffer from heat stress more than farm animals because they have few sweat glands, and their bodies are covered with thick fur. Intensive farming relies on antibiotics as antimicrobials or growth promoters to increase animals' productivity and health. However, the European Union and many countries have banned or restricted the use of antibiotics in animal feed for human health concerns. Several studies have found that replacing antibiotics in rabbit feed with natural plants or feed additives increases productivity and improves immune capacity, especially under heat stress conditions. Growth performance, immune response, gut microflora, and carcass yield may be increased in rabbits fed a diet supplemented with some natural plants and/or propolis. In this review article, we discuss and summarize the effects of some herbs and plant extracts as alternative feed additives on rabbit productivity, especially for those raised under hot ambient temperatures.
... Pure or mixed extracts from Laminaceae and Amaryllidaceae also have anti-coccidial effects. Two simultaneous experiments on a breeding farm for New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domestica) to determine the feasibility of replacing artificial coccidiostats with garlic and oregano preparations showed a positive influence of the additives on the degree and course of coccidia infection, which helped maintain a good level of animal productivity, and suggested that these herbal extracts may be of value in coccidiosis prophylaxis (NOSAL et al., 2014). THANGARASU et al. (2016) reported an in vitro antimicrobial effect and an inhibitory effect against E. tenella sporulation of the garlic compounds sulfur, allicin, dialyl sulfide and allylcysteine. ...
... THANGARASU et al. (2016) reported an in vitro antimicrobial effect and an inhibitory effect against E. tenella sporulation of the garlic compounds sulfur, allicin, dialyl sulfide and allylcysteine. Experiments with the commercially produced Bell Gold and Bell Premium preparations (Bellako Ltd., Zabrze, Poland) containing biologically active compounds from garlic and oregano have confirmed the coccidiocidal effect of plant extracts administered to rabbits during the weaning period (the period in which rabbits are most affected by eimeriosis) (NOSAL et al., 2014). Based on production indicators and mortality status, the commercial preparation Emanox PMX (containing plant extracts from oregano, thyme, mint, rosemary, marjoram and garlic) can achieve results against coccidiosis that are comparable to those of the chemically based preparation Sulfacox (FIK et al., 2015). ...
There is growing interest in the use of natural substances (NS, e.g. herbal extracts/phytoadditives or probiotic bacteria and their products) in rabbit husbandry. NS are being used in the prevention/elimi-nation of diarrhoeal diseases in rabbits , especially in the post-weaning period, with many NS reported to have antibacterial, antiprotozoal, anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory effects. Coccidiosis is one of the most serious protozoal diseases in rabbits, causing major losses through damage to the liver and intestine and affects on the nasal tract. We have compared the antiprotozoal effects of sage, oregano, a bacteriocin-producing, probiotic strain of Enterococcus faecium CCM 4231 and its bacte-riocin enterocin 4231 with those of the commercial product "Xtract" on Eimeria spp. in broiler rabbits. We used the zootechnical parameters weight gain and feed conversion as indicators of the presence of fewer or more pathogenic oocysts. We recorded a significant reduc
... Oregano's anticoccidial activity has been demonstrated in broiler chickens [60]. Its efficacy has also been proven against rabbit Eimeria spp., particularly when administered prophylactically [61][62][63]. Other formulations include garlic [64,65] which has also proven effective against hepatic coccidiosis, mainly when used prophylactically [61,64]. ...
... Its efficacy has also been proven against rabbit Eimeria spp., particularly when administered prophylactically [61][62][63]. Other formulations include garlic [64,65] which has also proven effective against hepatic coccidiosis, mainly when used prophylactically [61,64]. The combination of garlic and oregano added in rabbit feed has also been shown to enhance meat quality characteristics, with zero withdrawal period [63]. ...
Domestic rabbits are commercially farmed for their meat whilst gastrointestinal diseases can hinder their production. Passalurus ambiguus and Eimeria spp. are two common rabbit intestinal parasites that can cause diarrhoea, among other symptoms, and in severe cases, death. C. guttulatus is a commensal yeast of the rabbits’ stomach that is considered apathogenic but can worsen symptoms in rabbits suffering from coccidiosis. In the present case report, we describe an outbreak of deaths in three different age groups (A: lactating does, B: 58 days old and C: 80 days old) in an industrial rabbit farm in Greece. Symptoms included depression, diarrhoea, inappetence, weight loss, dehydration and ruffled furs. Using a faecal flotation technique, sick rabbits were found to be moderately to heavily infected with P. ambiguus, Eimeria spp. and C. guttulatus. Treatment with fenbendazole and oregano oil combined with hygiene control measures successfully controlled the infections and resolved clinical symptoms. A faecal flotation method or other reliable diagnostic technique should be used regularly in industrial rabbit farms to screen for gastrointestinal parasitic infections. Early diagnosis and control will help to maintain production levels and, therefore, limit financial losses for the farmer while ensuring animal welfare.
... There have also been several studies reporting on the attenuating effect of garlic (Allium sativum) on intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits (Kowalska, Bielański, Nosal & Kowal, 2012;Nosal, Kowalska, Bielański, Kowal & Kornás, 2014). Furthermore, garlic possesses antimicrobial (also against Escherichia species), antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects (Al-Quraishy et al., 2011;Ankri & Mirelman, 1999;Iciek, Kwiecień & Włodek, 2009). ...
... Furthermore, the decline of oocyst excretion after the second week of the trial highlights the critical role of coccidia especially in the first weeks after weaning. Earlier studies also conclude that the parasite becomes less important in older fattening rabbits (Nosal et al., 2014;Okumu et al, 2014;Papeschi, Fichi & Perrucci, 2013). This might be due to a maturation of the GALT (gut Table 3 shows all pathogens, detected during the examination of the perished rabbits. ...
Gastrointestinal disorders due to Eimeria sp. and E. coli overgrowth cause high mortality in weaner rabbits and the interest in alternatives to coccidiostats is high. This study aimed to investigate the superiority of natural feed additives towards robenidine preserving gastrointestinal health in the field. Rabbits were divided into four groups, Control Group (CG) exclusively supplemented with robenidine, Sainfoin Group (SG) was supplemented with a combination of robenidine and sainfoin, and two additional groups were respectively supplemented with Herb-All COCC-X (garlic; conessi tree) (HG: Herbal Group) and by a combination of Herb-All COCC-X and Klinofeed (clinoptilolite) (MG: Mineral Group). Eimeria sp. (98,40%) and E. coli overgrowth (73.60%) could be confirmed as the main causes for losses. High mortality rates (SG: 30.00% - MG: 47.50%), also in the groups receiving robenidine (SG: 30.00%; CG: 45.00%), reinforced the importance of alternatives in the field. The natural additives of groups SG, HG and MG did not have a significant influence on the weight gains and the oocyst counts in the jejunum/ileum and caecum of slaughter rabbits at the end of the trial, compared to group CG. Significantly higher oocyst shedding in SG (p = 1.4E-03) and HG (p = 1.4E-05) during the trial may be explained by a higher surviving rate of diseased rabbits in those groups, fostered by beneficial effects of the additives, which should be investigated further.
... While probiotics are widely used in animals because they improve the growth performance, productivity, health status and stimulate the immunity, studies concerning the protective effect against Eimeria sp. are still limited and focused on mainly the avian coccidiosis [65,66]. In rabbits, natural alternatives-prebiotics and herbal extracts-to coccidiostats have been studied [52,[67][68][69]. ...
The present review evaluates and compares the effects achieved after application of rabbit-derived bacteriocin-producing strain Enterococcus faecium CCM7420 with probiotic properties and its bacteriocin Ent7420. The experiments included varying duration of application (14 and 21 days), form of application (fresh culture and lyophilized form), combination with herbal extract and application of the partially purified enterocin—Ent7420, produced by this strain. Results from these studies showed that E. faecium CCM7420 strain was able to colonize the gastrointestinal tract (caecum) of rabbits (in the range < 1.0–6.7 log cycle, respectively 3.66 log cycle on average), to change the composition of intestinal microbiota (increased lactic acid bacteria, reduced counts of coliforms, clostridia and staphylococci), to modulate the immunity (significant increase of phagocytic activity), morphometry (enlargement absorption surface in jejunum, higher villi height:crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio), physiological (serum biochemistry; altered total proteins, glucose and triglycerides levels) and parasitological (Eimeria sp. oocysts) parameters and to improve weight gains (in the range 4.8–22.0%, respectively 11.2% on average), feed conversion ratio and meat quality (physicochemical traits and mineral content).
... Oregano is a well-known medicinal plant [9] which has been used also as dietary additive. Oregano essential oil has been used in animal diets including lambs [14], pigs [15][16][17][18][19], broiler chickens [20][21][22][23], rats [24], mice [25] and boar [26], while different extracts have been used in rats [27][28][29][30], broiler chickens [31] and rabbits [32]. However, few studies have been carried out using the dried entire plant or some parts as powder in ducks [33], or dried powder enriched with essential oil in pigs [34]. ...
... Due it has been established medicinal plants can enhance digestive enzymes, improving the digestibility and availability of nutrients and, therefore, increasing food utilization, protein synthesis and growth rates [2,[64][65][66] we first evaluated the effect of the addition of plants in feed on the growth performance of gilthead seabream, including WG, SGR and K. Our results did not identify significant differences for WG, SGR or K in fish fed with oregano-supplemented diets for 15 or 30 days compared with the control group. Similarly Ariza-Nieto et al. [15] and Ranucci et al. [16] found no differences in WG or SGR of pigs fed oregano essential oil or extracts, although most of studies of this kind found an increase in these parameters in pigs [19,34], broiler chickens [21][22][23]31], mice [25] and rabbits [32]. However, our results are contrary to the results obtained by Seden et al. [37], where the addition of 1% oregano powder to a Nile tilapia diet significantly increased WG, SGR and feed use compared with a control diet, which may be due to the difference between the species in question. ...
... In this sense, Nile tilapia fed oregano diets (0.5-2%) showed no mortality after challenge with A. hydrophila, while control fish showed a high percentage of mortality [37]. Other studies have also showed that the inclusion of oregano essential oils or extracts as dietary additive reduced Eimeria tenella parasitic infection [14,20,23,32], also confirming its antiparasitic activity. ...
Origanumsp. is a very common genus of aromatic plants worldwide distributed around the Mediterranean area and O. vulgare (oregano) is the most important species of this genus throughout the world. Due the known medicinal properties of oregano, the effect of diets enriched with 0% (control), 0.5% and 1% oregano leaves powder was studied on the growth, immune and antioxidant status of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.). Fish fed with oregano 0.5% and 1% enriched diets improved both humoral (IgM and bactericidal activity in skin mucus and protease activity in serum) and cellular (head kidney leucocytes phagocytic ability) immunity at 15 and 30 days. Furthermore, the addition of oregano did not provoke any significant effect neither in the growth promotion nor in the liver antioxidant enzymes activity studied in the serum and skin mucus. The possibility of using O. vulgare as a functional additive to fish diet is discussed.
... Therefore, the prevention guidelines in relation to backyard rabbitries are essential to be developed. It may include ad hoc administration of anticoccidical drugs from various chemical groups, such as toltrazuril and sulfachloropyrazine during the weaning of young rabbits [5], or the application of some already developed herbal supplements [14][15] throughout the rearing period. ...
This paper focuses on parasites of the genus Eimeria in rabbits kept in two backyard farms – from Poland (herd A) and Ukraine (herd B). The concentration McMaster technique and sporulation was applied to determine the level of infection, as well as to identify the species composition. The Eimeria sp. oocysts were present in all collected samples (prevalence = 100%), and four to nine coccidian species were identified in the herd A and B, respectively. Eimeria media was the most common species, and the presence of the most pathogenic E. intestinalis and E. flavescens was observed in both studied rabbitries. The results obtained suggest that coccidiosis may cause a serious risk for rabbits kept in backyard farms, therefore prevention guidelines in relation to the backyard breeding are crucial to be developed.
