title: Comparative evaluation of probiotic and salinomycin effects on performance and coccidiosis control in broiler chickens.
abstract: The annual financial loss to the poultry industry as a result of coccidiosis has been estimated at about US $3 billion. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of probiotics and salinomycin as feed additives on performance and coccidiosis control in male broilers raised to 42 d of age. The study consisted of 360 Cobb male broiler chickens randomly allocated to 4 groups each with 3 replicates. Group 1: untreated, unchallenged negative control group (NC); group 2: untreated, challenged positive control group (PC); group 3: negative control supplemented with salinomycin 66 mg/kg, challenged group (Sal); and group 4: negative control supplemented with probiotics, challenged (Prob mix). On d 15, all birds (except group 1) were challenged with approximately 75,000, 25,000, and 75,000 of Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima, and Eimeria tenella oocytes, respectively, that were mixed into the feed. Feed conversion ratio and mortality were recorded throughout the experiment. On d 21 and 42, intestinal lesions and litter conditions were scored. On d 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42, oocyst counts were determined from 10 freshly collected fecal samples per pen. The results showed that mortality, litter, and lesion scores at d 21 and 42, and oocyst shedding at d 21 did not differ significantly between the Prob mix and the Sal groups. However on d 28, oocyst shedding was significantly lower in the Sal group than in the PC group but insignificantly lower than the Prob mix group. Body weights of the Prob mix group at d 42 were significantly lower than the Sal group; however, the feed conversion ratio values were similar between the 2 groups. The results of this study showed that probiotics supplementation could be considered as a potential strategy to control coccidiosis in broiler chickens.
authors.affiliation: BIOMIN Holding GmbH, Herzogenburg, Austria 3130 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt 41522.
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.affiliation: BIOMIN Holding GmbH, Herzogenburg, Austria 3130.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohnl
authors.affiliation: BIOMIN Research Center, Technopark 1, Tulln, Austria 3430.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Teichmann
authors.affiliation: BIOMIN Holding GmbH, Herzogenburg, Austria 3130.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doupovec
authors.affiliation: BIOMIN Research Center, Technopark 1, Tulln, Austria 3430.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schatzmayr
authors.affiliation: Southern Poultry Research, 96 Roquemore Road, Athens, GA 30607.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lumpkins
authors.affiliation: Southern Poultry Research, 96 Roquemore Road, Athens, GA 30607.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mathis
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D003049:Coccidiostats / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011714:Pyrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides
chemical_list: D003049:Coccidiostats; D011714:Pyrans; C010327:salinomycin; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides
keywords: broiler; coccidiosis; performance; probiotic; salinomycin