Anticoccidial Activity of Star Anise (Illicium verum) Essential Oil in Broiler Chicks
Кънчев, Костадин, Al-Hoshani, Nawal, Al Syaad, Khalid, Saeed, Zohaib, Khan, Junaid, Raza, Muhammad, Atif, Farhan
Abstract
Coccidiosis is a devastating parasitic disease caused by organisms belonging to the genus Eimeria infecting poultry globally, causing havoc in the poultry industry. Synthetic anticoccidial drugs are being used commercially for the prevention and treatment of disease. Drug resistance and public health issues are leading to stopping their routine use. Multiple alternatives are being suggested, among which essential oils are among the novel substances to be tested against this disease. In this experiment, the anticoccidial efficiency of the essential oil of Star anise (Illicium verum) was evaluated in the broiler chicks. 270 broiler chicks were reared and divided into 6 groups, each group replicated thrice to achieve randomization. Essential oil of Star anise was given to three groups @ 1, 2, and 3%, and the rest of the three served as medicated control, infected non-medicated control, and noninfected non-medicated control groups. Effects on coccidial parameters (lesion score, oocyst score, oocyst per gram of feces and fecal score), performance parameters (feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, organ weight ratios and percent mortality), hematological and serum parameters were estimated. Results suggested that essential oils were effective in significantly reducing (P<0.05) coccidial parameters and improving performance parameters at a 3% concentration compared to infected medicated control groups. Based on the anticoccidial potential of the essential oil of Star anise, its use may be considered in the coccidiosis control programs in broiler chicks.