title: Effects of components of Artemisia annua on coccidia infections in chickens.
abstract: Four experiments were run to test the anticoccidial activity of dried Artemisia annua leaves and several of their chemical constituents for possible use as prophylactic feed additives. When fed over a period of 3 wk at a level of 5%, a dried leaf supplement of A. annua provided significant protection against lesions due to Eimeria tenella but not Eimeria acervulina or Eimeria maxima. When fed over a period of 5 wk at a level of 1% to chicks undergoing immunization with a live vaccine, it provided significant protection in partially immunized chicks against E. acervulina and E. tenella lesions from a dual species challenge infection. It also afforded lower mean lesion scores in challenged chicks immunized over a period of 5 wk. Artemisinin, an antimalarial component of A. annua, was present at a level of 0.034% in the dried leaf preparation. A 5% supplement thus afforded about 17 ppm artemisin. When the pure compound was fed at that level for a period of 3 wk, it protected weight gains and significantly reduced lesion scores attributable to E. tenella but not E. acervulina. Other components of A. annua, camphor and 1,8-cineole, at 119 ppm also protected weight gains, and reduced E. tenella lesion scores. Camphor reduced E. acervulina lesions. Artemisinin fed for 4 wk at levels of 2, 8.5, and 17 ppm significantly reduced oocyst output from separate E. acervulina and E. tenella infections and a dual species infection. Pure artemisinin thus appears to be effective against at least two coccidia species when used as a feed additive, and its activity may depend, in part, on the length of time it is administered before a challenge infection.
authors.affiliation: USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lydon
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Danforth
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D037621:Artemisinins; D002164:Camphor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002645:Chickens; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000077591:Eucalyptol; D008297:Male; D008610:Menthol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D039821:Monoterpenes; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013729:Terpenes; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D039821:Monoterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; D008610:Menthol; D002164:Camphor; C031327:artemisinin; D000077591:Eucalyptol