Comparison of the In Vivo Effects of a Commercial Steroidal Saponin-Based Standardized Premixture and Synthetic Molecules on the Reproduction of Eimeria spp.

     

Eimeria spp. completes its life cycle within the host’s gastrointestinal tract. its reproduction has been known to damage enterocytes, leading to decreased growth performance and welfare in chickens. Controlling the reproduction cycle and limiting oocyst excretion could explain the observed efficacy of steroidal saponin-based standardized premixture -Norponin XO- (NPXO) supplementation in chicken. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of feed supplementation with NPXO on the reproduction of Eimeria spp. in artificially infested chickens and to compare it to the effects of coccidiostats.70 broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly divided into 7 groups. Birds were raised in cages and received a standard diet from D1 to D12. From D13 to the end of the experiment, each group of birds received a supplementation as follows: The untreated control group received feed without any supplementation, while the NPXO group received feed supplemented with steroidal Saponin-Based Standardized Premixture. The other treatment groups were supplemented with coccidiostats (nicarbazin, salinomycin, monensin, and monensin/nicarbazin). Birds were artificially infested at day 14 using a wild-type inoculum. Each bird received 150,000 sporulated oocysts (E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. mitis). Parasite reproduction was monitored using oocyst count in bird droppings during 5 days post infestation. Starting 96 h post-infestation, daily droppings from each group were collected, weighed, and processed for oocyst count. The Reproductive Index and intensification efficiency were calculated.

Our investigations revealed that NPXO supplements, similar to coccidiostats, decreased the reproductive capability of the parasite. The most notable reduction in Reproductive Index (RI) was observed in birds administered nicarbazin, and those given Norponin® XO2 achieved the second-highest RI reduction. As expected, the birds in the Infected Untreated Control (IUC) group demonstrated the highest RI.

This finding supports the hypothesis that selected and standardized saponins target the extracellular phases of the parasite’s development cycle by affecting its membrane. This trial clearly demonstrated that NPXO supplementation could be as effective as many other widely used coccidiostats.

Key Words: Coccidiosis, Broiler chicken, Steroidal saponin.