Effect of prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic products on oxidative status, performance, and parasitological parameters of broiler chickens induced with cecal coccidiosis

The chicken's cellular immune response to invasion by Eimeria tenella, the cause of cecal coccidiosis, a destructive parasitic disease of poultry, generates reactive oxidative species (ROS). The antioxidant, performance, and parasitological effects of prebiotic (Sugarcane molasses), probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and synbiotic (cocktail of probiotics and prebiotics) supplementation in drinking water on cecal coccidiosis were investigated in this report. Ninety day-old broiler chicks were divided into 6 groups (A, B, C, D, E, and F), each with 15 chicks. At 21 d of age, Groups B – F were inoculated with 2.0 × 10⁴ Eimeria tenella sporulated oocysts/chick. Group A was used as negative control. The positive control Group B, was not supplemented. Throughout the experiment, Group C was given sugarcane molasses, Group D was given probiotics and Group E was given synbiotics. Group F received prophylactic amprolium treatment. Results revealed inoculated groups had significant (P < 0.05) increases in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities; 4.59 ± 3.89, 3.47 ± 0.92, 4.03 ± 1.89, 4.44 ± 1.99, 3.47 ± 1.44 U/ml in Groups B, C, D, E and F respectively compared with Group A (1.90 ± 0.21 U/ml) at 1-wk post inoculation (PI). Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration likewise increased significantly in the same groups and period. However, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities decreased significantly in the inoculated groups; 1,210.57 ± 29.59, 2,536.83 ± 108.82, 3,049.97 ± 86.68, 2,776.80 ± 399.69, 1,868.83 ± 45.04 U/ml in Groups B to F respectively compared with Group A (3,502.47 ± 224.35 U/ml) while catalase (CAT) activities were increased. Oocysts shed in feces were significantly increased 1-wk postinoculation in B but least in F, cecal lesion scores were similar. Feed intake declined significantly in inoculated groups especially B, alongside weight gain. Feed conversion ratio increased in the inoculated groups. The differences in the activities of the enzymes and MDA level between the supplemented groups and the positive control alongside evaluated parasitological parameters show the antioxidant effect of these supplements.