Dietary effect on chicken coccidiosis

Abstract

There has been renewed interest recently in the control of coccidiosis by nutritional means since the control of the disease by anti-coccidial drugs has been called into question. Dietary components or their form of presentation can act directly on parasitic development, strengthen host defence or favour recovery. Natural products with medicinal properties can also have beneficial effects. Thus, n-3 fatty acids or artemesin act directly on coccidian and inhibit their spread while essential fatty acids and vitamin B favour their development. The development of the disease can be modified by the use of whole grain cereals in the diet, thought to act indirectly by modifying digestive physiology. A high protein diet increases pancreatic secretion and favours parasitic development. Furthermore, dietary components such as fibre and derived milk products may modify the gut flora and thus affect the development of Eimeria. Recovery from infection can be aided by vitamins A, C or K, and also by betaine, which modify the effects of Eimeria on intestinal epithelial tissue. Other dietary factors (n-3 fatty acids, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E, γ-tocophérol, tumeric) or the dietary mode (restricted feeding) can act on the immune system and thus indirectly modulate parasitic development.