Table 2.
Faeces score post infection (p.i.), lesion score, daily body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in chicken experimental groups given diets consisting of Artemisia annua leaf powder alone ( Aa-p ) or combined with Foeniculum vulgare essential oil ( Fv-o ), after infection with Eimeria tenella (1×10 4 oocysts)
| Treatment groups |
Faecal score (average of days 4–9 p.i.) |
Lesion score |
BWG (g) |
FCR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 0-7 | Day 0-35 | ||||
|
Neg
|
0/0/0/0/0/0** |
0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0*** |
41.4 ± 0.25*** |
69.6 ± 0.13** |
1.86 |
|
Pos
|
2/4/4/2/3/0 |
4/3/3/4/3/4/4/3/4/0 |
33.5 ± 1.23 |
61.1 ± 0.92 |
1.98 |
|
Las
|
0/4/0/0/0/0* |
0/0/0/3/1/1/1/1/0/0*** |
40.9 ± 0.33*** |
66.8 ± 0.17* |
1.88 |
|
Aa-p
|
0/4/0/0/0/0* |
1/0/0/2/2/2/0/4/3/0** |
39.2 ± 0.41** |
68.2 ± 0.20** |
1.85 |
| Aa + Fv-o | 2/4/0/0/0/0 | 4/4/4/3/1/3/3/3/3/0 | 36 ± 0.99 | 64.1 ± 0.60 | 1.94 |
*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.
Negative group (Neg) was uninfected, untreated. Positive group (Pos) was infected, untreated. Birds that were infected and treated with lasalocid (Las) served as infected, treated controls.