This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different phytogenic feed additives (PFA) on growth performance, immune organ weight, lesion score, footpad dermatitis, oocyst shedding counts, intestinal morphology, blood profile and cecal bacterial counts in broiler chickens challenged with coccidiosis. 200 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens (BW 37.65 ± 0.82 g) were allocated in a randomized complete block design to 4 treatments: (1) NC: no-challenge / no-supplementation; (2) PC; Coccidiosis-challenge / no-supplementation; (3) GA: Coccidiosis-challenge / gallic acid (GA) at 100 mg/kg; (4) PFA: Coccidiosis-challenge / mixture of PFA including carvacrol, thymol and GA at 100 mg/kg. Broilers were fed for 32 days. Coccidiosis challenge decreased (p Lactobacillus count, while increased (p Escherichia coli count. On the other hand, anticoccidial feed additives (GA and PFA) mitigated (p p < 0.05) high lesion score, oocyst shedding count and harmful bacteria count induced by coccidiosis challenge. Therefore, GA and mixture of PFA including carvacrol, thymol and GA can be considered as an effective alternative for anticoccidial treatment in broilers.
Lee et al. (Thu,) studied this question.