Anticoccidial Activity of Aloe Vera Leafs’ Aqueous Extract and vaccination Against Eimeria tenella: Pathological Study in Broilers

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to assess the efficacy of an anticoccidial vaccine and the anticoccidial activity of Aloe vera in broiler chickens infected with Eimeria tenella. A total of 225 healthy one-day-old, unsexed broiler chicks (avian48) from a commercial broiler company were randomly divided into nine experimental groups, with 25 chicks in each group. The groups included: Group 1 (control, vaccinated, non-infected), Group 2 (vaccinated and infected with 5×104 sporulated oocysts), Group 3 (vaccinated, infected with 5×104 sporulated oocysts, and treated with Aloe vera), Group 4 (infected with 5×104 sporulated oocysts and treated with Aloe vera), Group 5 (positive control, infected with 5×104 sporulated oocysts), Group 6 (challenged with 5×104 sporulated oocysts and then treated with amprolium), Group 7 (treated with amprolium), Group 8 (blank control negative group), and Group 9 (treated with Aloe vera gel). Various parameters including clinical signs, growth performance, oocyst shedding, hematological and immunological parameters, and pathological lesion scoring were evaluated. The results showed that Aloe vera improved growth performance, reduced oocyst shedding, and decreased caecal lesion scores in broiler chicks infected with Eimeria tenella. The use of Aloe vera in combination with either amprolium or anticoccidial vaccines provided a potential solution to the issues of drug resistance and drug residues. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the control of coccidiosis in broilers. Supplementing the chicken diet with Aloe vera had beneficial effects on the pathogenicity and infectivity of Eimeria tenella, making it a cost-effective alternative as an herbal extract with no adverse side effects for coccidiosis control. These findings suggest that Aloe vera can be considered as a potential candidate for inclusion in broiler diets to effectively control coccidiosis.