Symposium on Gut Health in Production of Food Animals 2021

Don Ritter, Innovad USA

Coccidiosis in modern production has been linked with compromised intestinal health, chronic inflammation, reduction in antibiotic usage and economic losses. Even subclinical disease can lead to significant production losses. The use of anticoccidials; for example, ionophores and synthetics, has been associated with resistance, whereas vaccines have had various degrees of efficacy. Here we evaluated a novel phytogenic technology (Aflocox, Innovad) with or without an intestinal health enhancer technology (Lumance) (1) under a severe mixed coccidiosis infection in a battery cage setup, and (2) in a dietary-induced mild coccidiosis within a real production system. In experiment 1, a mixed Eimeria infection (E. acervulina ~130,000, E. maxima ~39,000, E. tenella ~32,000 and E. mitis ~11,000 oocysts/mL) at d 13 resulted in 25% mortality between d 19 and 21, which was reduced to 0% by Aflocox (200g/ton from d 13 onward) in combination with Lumance (d 1-d 12: 250 g/T; d 13 onwards: 1 kg/ton) (P < 0.05, n = 4 cages/treatment, n = 5 birds/treatment). In experiment 2, under farming conditions, a high non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) diet (60% wheat + 5% rye without NSPases) increased total Eimeria lesion scores at d 21 (P = 0.09) and significantly worsened macroscopic dysbacteriosis both at d 21 and d 28 over a standard diet (50% corn + 30% soy) (P < 0.005; 1 bird per pen scored, n = 8 pens/group; n = 30 birds/pen), evaluated according to Teirlynck et al. (2011). Both Aflocox and Aflocox in combination with Lumance (a) ameliorated dysbacteriosis over the NSP-challenged group and showed no difference over the standard diet at d 21 and d 28 (P < 0.005), and (b) reduced numerically total Eimeria lesion scores (1 bird per pen scored, n = 8 pens/group; n = 30 birds/pen) and OPGs, to the same level as the standard diet at d 21 and d 28. Importantly, Aflocox (200 g/ton) with or without Lumance (1 kg/ton) at the end of the life cycle (d 35) significantly increased the BW over the high-NSP and reduced the FCR (P < 0.05; n = 8 pens/group; n = 30 birds/pen). Thus, we have evaluated a novel phytogenic technology (Aflocox) against 2 setups of coccidiosis with great promise.

Key Words: coccidiosis, gut health, phytogenic, real farming conditions.

Authors: A. Khadem 1,2, D. Ritter *3, and C. Gougoulias1 / 1 Innovad NV/SA, Essen, Belgium, 2 Lab of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium, 3 Innovad USA, Salisbury, MD, USA.

Stephanie Hutsko, Provimi

Coccidiosis in turkeys leads to decreased ADG, increased FCR, damaged intestinal integrity and, in clinical cases, increased mortality. Over the past decades of chemical and medication usage, Eimeria species have developed resistance to anticoccidial drugs limiting their effectiveness. So, this creates an urgent need to develop effective prevention and control strategies. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the potential of a proprietary saponin/ oregano blend to maintain performance and reduce oocyst shedding in turkey poults during a coccidiosis challenge. In study 1, poults were raised in battery cages d 0- 14 and then were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: Control (C; non-medicated, non-infected), Negative Control (NC; non-medicated, infected), Zoalene (ZO; 125 ppm Zoalene, infected) and Experimental (E; saponin/oregano blend; 2 lb/t, infected), each with 7 replicates of 8 poults/replicate. On d 16 poults were gavaged with 1 mL of coccidia inoculum (100,000 oocysts/mL) and on d 25 birds were weighed and excreta collected for oocyst counts. The E birds had higher ADG compared with the NC and ZO birds and a lower FCR compared with NC (P < 0.05). Shedding of E. adenoids was decreased in the E group compared with NC, and shedding of E. meleagrimitis and E. gallopavonis was intermediate between the NC and ZO groups. In study 2, poults were again raised in battery cages d 0–14 and then were assigned to 1 of 5 treatments: Control (C; non-medicated, non-infected), Negative Control (NC; non-medicated, infected), Zoalene (ZO; 125 ppm, infected), Natustat (NS; 4lb/t, infected), Experimental (E; saponin/oregano blend; 2 lb/t, infected), each with 7 replicates of 8 poults/replicate. On d 16 poults were gavaged with 1 mL of coccidia inoculum (100,000 oocysts/mL). On d 21, birds were weighed and excreta collected for oocyst counts. Birds in the E group showed improved ADG and FCR compared with the NC and NS groups (P < 0.05). Oocyst shedding in the E group was intermediate between the NC and ZO groups. Overall, this saponin and oregano blend was effective at improving performance and reducing oocyst shedding in poults during a coccidiosis challenge.

Key Words: cocci, prevention, turkey, oocyst, saponin.

Authors: S. Hutsko*, A. Garcia, E. Guaiume, D. Giesting, and R. Payne / Cargill Animal Nutrition, Rice Lake, WI, USA.