Comparative efficacy of commonly used herbal and orthodox anticoccidial drugs in broiler birds experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria species.

Coccidiosis is a major economic burden in poultry farming worldwide. In Nigeria, herbal anticoccidials are widely used, yet their efficacy compared to orthodox drugs remains unclear. This study evaluates their comparative effects in broilers experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria species. 70 five-week-old broiler birds were employed in this study. The infective dose of the field strain of mixed Eimeria species was determined following standard procedures. Forty-two birds were randomly assigned to six groups (seven birds per group) to compare the anticoccidial effects of herbal and orthodox drugs. Groups A-E were infected with 10 sporulated mixed Eimeria tenella and E. maxima oocysts while group F was the uninfected control. Groups A-D were treated with Cocci00® (branded herbal drug), unbranded herbal preparation (UHP), Amprolium, and Diclazuril respectively, following the manufacturer's recommended dosage. Group E remained untreated. Clinical signs, body weight changes, oocyst output, feed conversion ratio (FCR), lesion score, survivability/mortality and haematological parameters of the birds were assessed. Among treated groups, birds in the UHP group had significantly higher (p < 0.05) oocyst counts, mortality rates, and FCR, along with lower (p < 0.05) weight gain. Conversely, groups A, C, and D demonstrated comparable mortality rates, survival times, oocyst counts, FCR and lesion scores. However, these values were slightly better in the Diclazuril-treated group D birds. In conclusion, both Cocci00® (branded herbal) and orthodox drugs showed similar anticoccidial effects, but Diclazuril was the most effective. The UHP had the lowest efficacy.