Efficacy of a herbal product againstHistomonas meleagridisafter experimental infection of turkey poults

Abstract

Histomoniasis (infectious enterohepatitis, blackhead) is caused by the protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis (H. meleagridis). After the ban of all prophylactic and therapeutic drugs in the European Union, histomoniasis is increasingly responsible for considerable economic problems to the poultry industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a herbal product with extracts from cinnamon, garlic, lemon, and rosemary on H. meleagridis in turkey poults in vivo. For this purpose, 60 two-week-old poults were divided into three groups. Group 1 received the herbal product in the feed six days before infection and in water three days before infection, then in feed and drinking water until the end of the experiment. Groups 2 and 3 were left untreated. At week 3 of age, Groups 1 and 2 were infected intracloacally with H. meleagridis. Three weeks after infection the surviving birds were euthanized and examined for pathological lesions. Mortality was 20% in Group 1 and 50% in Group 2. There were no deaths in Group 3. DNA of histomonads was detected in all examined caeca and livers of the dead birds, but was not detected in any examined organ of the surviving birds of all groups. There was no noticeable difference in the lesion scores of the dead birds between the groups. The surviving birds of all groups did not show lesions post mortem. Since all effective prophylactic and therapeutic drugs against histomoniasis were banned in the EU, under given conditions the investigated herbal product seems to be an effective alternative for the reduction of mortality in turkeys caused by histomoniasis.

In vivo effect of herbal products against Histomonas meleagridis in turkeys

“…The latter finding is in agreement with the results of a field study in turkeys (Chossat, 2002), but in contrast with a recent in vivo experiment (Hafez & Hauck, 2006). In the latter study turkeys provided with Protophyt™ SP in the feed six days before inoculation and Protophyt™ B in the drinking water three days before inoculation showed 20% mortality instead of 50% mortality in the positive control group after experimental inoculation with 147500 histomonads per bird.…”

“…Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative antihistomonal products (Hu & McDougald, 2004). In the field, herbal products are used to prevent outbreaks of histomoniasis (Hafez & Hauck, 2006). However there are only a few scientific in vivo studies backing up the efficacy of such products against H. meleagridis.…”

“…Duffy et al (2005) observed a positive effect of Natustat™, a yeast-derived mannonoligosaccharide combined with organic mineral nutrients and plant extracts on caecal and liver lesions scores but not on mortality. In a recent study (Hafez & Hauck, 2006) Protophyt™ SP (feed additive) and Protophyt™ B (drinking water additive) were found to reduce mortality following experimental inoculation with H. meleagridis from 50% (untreated group) to 20% (additives), with no mortality in the control group.…”

Antihistomonal effects of artemisinin andArtemisia annuaextractsin vitrocould not be confirmed byin vivoexperiments in turkeys and chickens

“…Several in vitro and in vivo experimental studies on chemotherapeutics have shown variable outcomes in finding a new and efficient therapy against H. meleagridis infections (Hu & McDougald, 2002;Hafez & Hauck, 2006;Bleyen et al, 2009;Hafez et al, 2010;Hauck et al, 2010b). Within recent years a trend towards non-chemotherapeutic alternative means has been set in the combat of histomonosis.…”

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“…From among the former group, only Histostat (nitarsone) has received FDA approval solely for prevention, and from among the latter, the most effective one, dimetridazole, which has been banned in animals for its carcinogenic, mutagenic, and genotoxic effects 6,7 . As a result, a treatment gap exists for histomoniasis which calls for attention 8 . The use of medicinal herbs which are widely available and inexpensive and have few side-effects may be the answer.…”