Necrotic enteritis and coinfection with different coccidia species with unveiling the effect of Moringa extract in improving their negative impact in broiler chickens

Abstract

A severe co-infection in poultry is produced by Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) and coccidia, which results in fatalities and bleeding diarrhea. This study aimed to detect the effect of M. olifera extract against C. perfringens and Eimeria. A total of 200 samples were collected from eight broiler farms to isolate C. perfringens and detect Eimeria spp. from suspected diseased poultry and litter. Thirteen percent of the samples were positive for C. perfringens, and 87% and 50% of the confirmed isolates had the enterotoxin genes cpe and netB. Eimeria spp. accounted for 60% of the population, with E. acervulina, E. necatrix, E. tenella, and E. maxima being the most frequently identified species. Furthermore, we determined the relative efficacy of the plant extracts by examining the efficacy of Moringa oleifera extraction on broilers experimentally infected with C. perfringens and mixed Eimeria species. We divided the 30 birds into three groups, each containing 10 birds. Group 1 (G1) was used as a control, Group 2 (G2) had C. perfringens type A and Eimeria spp. Infections for the last 3 weeks, and Group 3 (G3) had the same infections as Group 2 and had been fed M. oleifera extract (150 mg/kg BW). At the experimental infection level, the animals' growth performance parameters became better than those of the infected group, with a significant variation (P < 0.05) in G3. Additionally, they had fewer C. perfringens infections in their intestines and faeces, and their feces shed fewer oocysts. In conclusion, M. olifera extract is effective against C. perfringens and Eimeria-challenged birds and enhances their performance.