This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Aloe vera gel and Yucca schidigera extract supplementation on growth performance, oocyst shedding, intestinal lesions and inflammatory response in broilers challenged with coccidia. Two hundred and ten, one-day old Cobb chicks were randomly allocated to seven equal groups (30 birds/group). (G1): noninfected non-treated group, (G2): infected non-treated group, (G3)&(G4): infected and treated with Aloe vera gel 5gm/L and Yucca schidigera extract 200 mg/ L respectively from 7 th day of age till the end of the experiment, (G5)&(G6): infected and treated with Aloe vera gel 5gm/L and Yucca schidigera extract 200 mg/L respectively from 15 th day of age till the end of the experiment and (G7): infected and treated with Amprolium 1g/ 2 L from 15 th day for five successive days. Chickens in infected groups were challenged with 50,000 sporulated oocysts of field strain of Eimeria spp. on the 14 th days of age. The average body weight gains, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded all over the experimental period. The anticoccidial evaluation post infection depended on severity of bloody diarrhea, lesion scores as well as the oocyst shedding. In addition, histopathological changes in intestine and serum level of inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Aloe vera gel and Yucca schidigera extract supplementation were able to mitigate the devastating effects of coccidia challenge in broilers. Growth performances represented by bodyweight gain, and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved. The Lesion score and oocysts shedding were significantly reduced as well as the serum level of pro-inflammatory (IL-6 and IL-1β) were significantly down regulated in challenged treated groups. The histopathological changes of intestine were ameliorated in treated supplemented groups. In conclusion, Aloe vera gel and Yucca schidigera extract can be a promising candidate to be used as a natural, low cost alternative to control coccidiosis in chickens.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.