6 giải pháp dinh dướng mới nổi đối với bệnh cầu trùng gia cầm

Coccidiosis and necrotizing enterocolitis are estimated to cost about 10 billion US dollars each year in the US. If we consider coccidiosis as one of the factors that increase necrotizing enterocolitis, then we can assess the extent of damage caused by coccidiosis.

Unfortunately, the use of anti-coccidial drugs is being opposed in the US, because of the breeding plan towards “No antibiotics” or “Limited use of antibiotics”. Obviously, such an approach does not alleviate the impact of coccidiosis. Unlike European countries, in the US anticoccidiosis drugs are also considered antibiotics and there is an increasing trend to eliminate all such antibiotics from animal feed.

In addition to veterinary interventions (vaccines) and management programs, nutrition is one of the three avenues to tackle coccidiosis. To achieve this goal, several nutritional additives have been and are being tested. These are additives that have been studied, with more or less success against bacterial pathogens. The list below is just the beginning of these efforts, as many more products are still in beta.

The phytogenics

As mentioned, phytogenics include a wide variety of compounds derived from plants, whether natural or synthetic. They are being marketed as mixtures of different active ingredients in various forms, and are often protected against their volatile nature. As expected, their effectiveness varied widely. Given the large number of commercial products, much research is being done to search for nutritional agents against coccidiosis.

Organic acids

Organic acids are mostly effective against bacteria. They are a key component of any antibiotic-free nutrition program in poultry. As expected, organic acids have also been tested against coccidiosis. However, the products tested to date have largely failed to produce tangible results. They may be effective against Clostridium perfringens, the cause of active enterocolitis, but they hold little promise against Eimeria species, the protozoa that cause coccidiosis.

Probiotics and prebiotics

No probiotic strains have been shown to act directly against Eimeria species. It is possible through genetic engineering – if allowed – to create probiotics specifically designed for such a purpose. To date, the effects of probiotics have often been indirect through promoting gut health as they promote beneficial microbiota. The same holds true for prebiotics that benefit the host microbiome. Current use of probiotics and prebiotics should be considered as an adjunct in a strategy against all microorganisms that negatively affect gut health.

Algae

Recent evidence suggests that some algae-derived products can modulate host immunity sufficiently to provide substantial support against coccidiosis challenges. Preliminary results suggest that a stronger intestinal epithelial barrier may be more resistant to coccidiosis. The effect of additives on host immunity is under intense investigation as this appears to be a possible route against coccidiosis.

Despite promising results from these unique additives, most nutritional antimicrobials are not yet effective against coccidiosis. Improved gut health will likely be the best way to help the animal fight coccidiosis on its own.