ARTICLE 70 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2024 of the GALT (gut-associated lymphoid tissue) was found to be 25% thicker in birds fed phytobiotic compared to control subjects (Figure 2). Although the primary function of the gastrointestinal tract is to digest and absorb nutrients, a well-managed GALT is crucial for optimal animal health and performance. The GIT also serves as a vital barrier preventing the entry of potentially harmful pathogens and other environmental antigens. In case of challenge, there is no better estimation than the comparison with the drug. Amprolium is one of the medications used by choice in the case of coccidiosis. It was a subject of study at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan. The local breed of Arbor Acres broilers was divided into four treatment groups, where three of them were challenged with 5x103 E. acervulina and 2x104 E. tenella on day 14. The OPG (oocyst per gram) treated with Amprolium (0.0125%) and adiCox® AP 200g/MT of feed showed similar effectiveness: The obtained results for Amprolium and adiCox® AP groups of 0.41x106 and 1.29x106, respectively, while the positive control (infected, untreated) result was 8.72x106, thought (Figure 3). OPG is a parameter commonly used to describe the severity of coccidiosis infection where the sacrifice of the birds is not necessary. Randomly selected representative faeces samples can provide a clear view of the poultry house. OPG was one of the parameters observed during the challenge with a non-attenuated vaccine of 500 male chicks at the Southern Poultry Study Group facility in the USA. The comparison aimed for the two most likely chosen programmes: stand-alone (single coccidiosis control method) and so-called bioshuttle, all housed in deep litter conditions. The birds assigned to the bioshuttle part were vaccinated at day 0 and, after 21 days, fed the feed with 300 adiCox® AP or chemical coccidiostat (125 ppm) included. The stand-alone programme used a single factor, either adiCox® AP, vaccination or chemical coccidiostat. The highest OPG record belonged to Figure 2. The intestinal lumen of the birds challenged with Eimeria from control and experimental groups 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8.72 OPG 0.0 Negative control Positive control Amprolium National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan 2021. adiCox® AP 0.41 1.29 (x106) Figure 3. The comparison of OPG parameters calculated for birds treated with Amprolium and adiCox® AP
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