Attenuation of pathogenesis of Eimeria stiedae sporulated oocysts using Egyptian alginate propolis nanoparticles

BACKGROUND

Coccidiosis is a costly and widespread infectious disease that affects mammals and causes huge losses for the global rabbit meat industry. This study evaluated the potency of Egyptian alginate propolis nanoparticles (NPs) in attenuating the infectivity of Eimeria stiedae sporulated oocysts. The gelification method was used to prepare alginate propolis NPs, which were then characterized using a transmission electron microscope and zeta potential analysis.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the zeta potential of the prepared alginate propolis NPs increased from - 60.60 ± 9.10 mV to -72.26 ± 6.04 mV. The sporulated oocysts were treated with 50 mg/mL of the alginate propolis NPs. Thereafter, the treated oocysts were tested for their ability to infect rabbits. The rabbits were divided into three groups: the healthy control (G1) group, the infected control (G2) group, and the treated oocyst-infected (G3) group. The rabbits were sacrificed 43 days post-infection (dpi). The infectivity of the oocysts was assessed. The treated oocyst-infected rabbits exhibited slight abdominal distension and dullness symptoms. The G3 group had no oocyst output, with a 100% reduction from 41 dpi until the end of the experiment. Immunologically, the IgG level of the G2 group gradually increased (p ≤ 0.05) much more than that of the G3 group. The IL-12 level in the G3 group significantly increased from 16 dpi until the end of the experiment, nearly reaching the level in healthy animals. Decreased CD4+ and CD8+ immunolabelling was observed in the liver sections of the group infected with the alginate propolis NP-treated oocysts, and there was a remarkable improvement in the histopathological parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that Alg propolis NPs are sufficient to reduce the infectivity of E. stiedae oocysts.

Comparative study between chemical anticoccidial medication and natural prepared products on experimentally infected broiler chickens

This study was conducted in order to compare well established used chemical anticoccidial medication (diclazuril) against natural prepared safe alternative products of garlic extract (GE), Moringa oleifera (MO) leaves extract, onion extract (OE), in order to control experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella species in chickens. Performance parameter in form of average body weight (ABW) and feed conversion rate (FCR) were studied together with biochemical parameters (malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), mortality rate, oocyst count in addition to total white blood cell (WBCs), lymphocytes and heterophils counts. Histopathological examination of intestinal tract in all test groups was studied. Results revealed that the lowest mortality rate was found in group treated with MO leaves extract. All challenged herbal extract treated groups revealed ABW and FCR lower than diclazuril treated infected group. All treated groups were lower in both average lesion score and average oocyst count two weeks post challenge when compared with control positive group indicate positive impact of all studied therapies either chemical or herbal products but with variable degrees as best effect was diclazuril followed by MO group, followed by GE group and finally group treated with OE. Experimental infection of chickens with E. tenella oocysts significantly increased MDA concentration when compared with control negative non-treated group (P < 0.01). However, infected birds fed with OE, GE, MO leaves extracts and diclazuril administration for a week pre-infection had significantly declined MDA concentrations compared with infected non-treated (P < 0.01). Control positive birds showed significant decrease in SOD and CAT activities vs. the healthy birds either at week pre-infection or at two days' post-infection (P < 0.01). However, SOD activities in birds fed with OE, MO leaves extract and diclazuril for a week pre-infection significantly higher (P < 0.01) than control positive. Histopathological finding revealed that best was group treated with diclazuril followed by group received MO, followed by group received GE and finally group received OE. It could be concluded that herbal extract may be representing a good alternative anticoccidial medications specially that the later may developed resistance for many Eimeria species in continuous use in veterinary field.

Therapeutic effect of Moringa oleifera and Thymus vulgaris oils against hepatic coccidiosis in experimentally infected rabbits

The present study was conducted to detect the therapeutic effect of Moringa oleifera and Thymus vulgaris oils on hepatic coccidiosis in experimentally infected rabbits. Also, immunomodulatory effect of the two oils was detected. Twenty-four Newzealand rabbits were used in this study and divided into 4 groups; healthy rabbits, experimentally infected rabbits with Eimeria stiedae oocysts, and two infected treated groups (one with moringa (200 mg/kg) and the other with thyme (500 mg/kg) oils). The results showed highly significant reduction in oocysts shedding (P<0.001 and P<0.05) in the two infected and treated rabbits than the infected non-treated rabbits in almost all days post infection (PI). Thyme oil was more potent and stopped oocysts shedding earlier at the day 34 PI compared to moringa oil at the day 41 PI. Microscopically, there was a damage in the oocysts shed by treated rabbits. Macroscopically, the livers of thyme oil treated rabbits showed more enhancement with protection percentage 75% than those treated with moringa oil in which protection percentage was 55%. The highest titer of antibodies was detected in moringa oil treated rabbits. It was concluded that both moringa and thyme oils had an anti-coccidial effect with thyme oil superiority. So, thyme oil could be useful as an alternative product for the control of rabbit coccidiosis.

Hyalomma impeltatum (Acari: Ixodidae) as a potential vector of malignant theileriosis in sheep in Saudi Arabia

Little is known about tick-borne diseases in Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding the prevalence of theileriosis in small ruminants. This survey studied the potential vectors of malignant theileriosis in Saudi Arabian sheep. Blood, lymph node and tick samples were collected from animals being treated or necropsied at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Jeddah, Makkah (western region), and Bureida, Al-Qasim (central region). Blood and lymph node smears were prepared and examined for Theileria species. Theileria hirci (=T. lestoquardi) was found in lymph node smears of one out of 36 sheep (2.8%) in Jeddah and six of 25 sheep (24%) in Bureida. The erythrocytic forms were detected in 5-8% of RBCs. Ticks were found in relatively less number of sheep in Bureida and Jeddah, 17/180 and 26/125, respectively. All Theileria-infected sheep were infested with Hyalomma impeltatum except the one that carried Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. This suggests that H. impeltatum is a potential vector of malignant theileriosis in Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence of blood parasites among cattle at the central area of Saudi Arabia

The present study aimed to investigate the parasites infecting cattle blood at Al-Qassim region. Examination of 307 blood samples revealed that 235 (76.5%) and 3 (0.98%) of cattle were infected with Theileria annulata and Anaplasma marginale, respectively. T. annulata was the prevalent blood parasite among cattle while A. marginale was scarcely encountered. The monthly incidence of T. annulata ranged from 38.5% in March to 94.7% in October. Also, the infection rate reached a maximum (84.3%) in both autumn and summer seasons, while it decreased to reach (59.4%) in spring. It has been found that there was no difference between the infection rate of the laboratory and the abattoir collected samples. However, the intensity of infection was different between the two groups.