Abstract

Background:
Coccidial intestinal infection induces significant economic losses in the production of birds. It also constitutes a major hazard of drug residues to meat consumers if the coccidia is controlled using anticoccidial drugs.

Aim:
This study aimed to assess the impact of dietary garlic as a natural alternative with or without probiotics compared to the anticoccidial drug against Eimeria infection of broilers.

Methods:
Growth rate, carcass dressing, blood metabolites, meat quality, intestinal histomorphology, oocyst shedding, and gene expression were assessed. A total of 150 one-day-old Ross broiler chicks were divided into five groups: NC, negative control; PC, positive control; AC, anticoccidial drug; GR, garlic; GR-P, garlic plus probiotics. The Coccidia challenge was conducted for all experimental groups except NC.

Results:
PC birds showed a significantly lower weight gain and worse feed conversion ratio compared to the NC birds. The GR-P and AC groups revealed comparable results regarding WG and were significantly higher than the GR and PC groups. In comparison to the PC, AC, and GR-P groups, the GR group exhibited significantly decreased cecal lesion score, mortality rate, and oocyst shedding. GR-P improved carcass traits compared to other groups. GR-P and GR-P showed the highest scores for appearance, juiciness, tenderness, and the overall acceptability of breast meat. GR-P, GR, and AC reduced breast meat PH, TBARS, fat, and ash compared to PC. AC, GR, and GR-P significantly increased jejunal and cecal villus length and crypt depth. Improvements in blood parameters were seen in the AC, GR, and GR-P groups rather than in the PC group. Coccidia challenge significantly induced changes in gene expression levels, while the three additives mainly reversed their expression.

Conclusion:
The present study reported a promising role of garlic-probiotics dietary supplements in broiler chickens’ growth performance during coccidiosis due to their antioxidant, anticoccidial, and antimicrobial activities.

Key words: Broilers, Coccidiosis, Eimeria, Growth, Gene expression, Phytobiotics