Anticoccidial effect of origanum majoranum aqueous extract on eimeria tenella-infected chicken

Avian coccidiosis, an important protozoal disease of chicken triggered by coccidian protozoa of genus Eimeria, causes considerable economic losses to broiler producers. The study was designed to assess the efficiency of Origanum majoranum aqueous extract (OMAE) on E. tenella-infected broiler chicken. Birds were divided into four groups including: positive control (PC, challenged with 5×104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella at the 12th day of age), PC+OMAE (challenged with E. tenella oocysts at the 12th day of age and received OMAE (125 mg/kg BW) orally, started at the 7th day of age, and continued for 14 consecutive days), OMAE (received OMAE (125 mg/kg BW) orally, at the 7th day of age, for 14 consecutive days), and negative control (received basal diet only). Anticoccidial efficacy of OMAE was evaluated by complete blood picture, serum chemistry, serum protein electrophoresis, antioxidants markers, cecal oocysts count, and cecal lesions score. Briefly, collected data indicated that supplementation of OMAE coul d i ncrease anti oxi dants concentrati ons and i mprove changes i n hemato-bi ochemi cal parameters and serum protei n fracti ons, as wel l as decrease cecal oocysts count and reduce cecal lesion scores in E. tenella-infected birds. In conclusion, OMAE restores oxi dant-anti oxi dant bal ance, and i ts suppl ementati on i n broi l er chi cken can al l evi ate E. tenella-infection and reduce its severity.