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Updated: Oct 10, 2026
Nucleofection and In Vivo Propagation of Chicken Eimeria Parasites
Published on: February 14, 2020
Immunomodulatory effects of a polyherbal formulation against experimental Eimeria tenella infection in Sonali
Dipa Rani Pal1, Md Ashikuzzaman2, Kazi Farah Tasfia2
1Department of Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics, Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Babugonj, Barishal, 8210, Bangladesh.
Abstract:
Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria tenella remains a major economic constraint in poultry production, and rising anticoccidial drug resistance has intensified interest in phytogenic alternatives. This study evaluated a polyherbal mixture (PHM) combining Moringa oleifera, Azadirachta indica, Psidium guajava, and Curcuma longa against experimental E. tenella infection in Sonali chickens. Thin-layer chromatography of the four extracts and their combination identified gallic acid, catechin, curcumin, and alkaloids as consistent phytoconstituents. 72 birds were allocated into six groups - uninfected and infected controls, a commercial anticoccidial group, and three PHM doses (1.0, 0.5, 0.25 mL/L drinking water) - and monitored for average weight gain (AWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and oocyst shedding as oocysts per gram (OPG) at 9 and 14 days post-infection (DPI). The 0.25 mL/L dose produced the most efficient FCR, lowest OPG at both time points, and highest AWG by 14 DPI despite the lowest early gain, consistent with a non-linear, inverse dose-response reflecting a shift from a beneficial to a less-tolerated phytochemical exposure level. Relative expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in cecal tissue showed early IL-10 suppression and TLR4 downregulation at 9 DPI, followed by significant IFN-γ upregulation and IL-10 recovery by 14 DPI, while TLR4 remained suppressed. STRING-based protein-protein interaction analysis identified direct, high-confidence associations among the three genes and enrichment in defense-response and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways, supporting a functionally coordinated immune module. These findings indicate that low-dose PHM exerts anticoccidial efficacy through a time-resolved immunomodulatory mechanism, positioning it as a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional anticoccidials for commercial Sonali chicken production.
