Comparative Study on the Effect of A probiotic and Toltrazuril for Controlling Coccidiosis in Japanese Quails (Coturnix Japonica)

Abstract

This study was carried out to compare between the effect of probiotic (Gro-2-max) and anticoccidial toltrazuril in prevention of coccidiosis in quails and also examine their effects on some blood biochemical, antioxidant and immunological parameters. One hundred and twenty six apparently healthy, one day old quails were divided into 6 equal groups. Group (Gp 1) was kept as control. Gp 2 was treated with a probiotic preparation (1 gm/L drinking water) from a day till 28 days old. Gp 3 was treated with toltrazuril at 16 days old at a dose of 25 ppm (1 ml/L drinking water) for 2 consecutive days. Gp 4 was inoculated with 4.1 x 10 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria spp. intracrop at 14 days old. Gp 5 was treated with a probiotic (1 gm/L drinking water) from a day till 28 days old and experimentally inoculated with 4.1 x 10 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria spp. at 14 days old using intracrop route. Gp 6 was experimentally inoculated with 4.1 x 10 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria spp. at 14 days old and treated with toltrazuril at 16 days old at a dose of 25 ppm (1ml/L drinking water) for 2 consecutive days. Probiotic relatively minimize the infestation and oocysts shedding. Moreover, an improvement in the cecal IFN-γ &IL-2 and antioxidant enzymes with variable effects on the serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, ALT, AST and ALP activities were resulted. It could be concluded that the addition of the used probiotic (1 gm/L drinking water) was found to have a positive effect on coccidiosis and reduce the number of Eimeria oocysts and reduces the damage caused by free radicals and raise immunity.