Immunotherapeutic Efficacy of Dietary Black Cumin Seed Synergistic Action of Curcumin Experimental Eimeria Tenella Infections in Chicks

Coccidiosis is a major health and economic problem in the poultry industry. This work was planned to study the effect of Nigella sativa grinded seeds and Curcumin on experimental infection of chicks with Eimeria tenella. Chicks were divided into six groups; G (1) received N. sativa 500 part million (ppm), and curcumin 500 ppm, G (2) received N. sativa 1000 ppm, G (3) received Curcumin 1000 ppm, G (4) received anticoccidial drug (diclazuril), G (5) received no herbs or drugs as a control infected and G (6)10 normal non-infected control. All chicks were infected at 28 days old with 20,000 sporulated Eimeria tenella oocysts. Daily counting of oocysts was done for eight days post infection (p. i.). Chicks were weighed during the six weeks of the experiment. Blood was collected at 30 and 42 days for total WBCs count and total protein determination. Caeca from chicks were collected and preserved in 10% formalin to see gross pathological changes and (6µm) sections for histopathological examination. The results of this work showed that group (1) had a higher body weight gain from 14 to 21 d of age. Also, it had total WBCs count as normal healthy birds (32,250± 3,218 /µl) and a total serum protein (5.5 ± 1.2 g/ dl). However, after experimental infection with Eimeria tenella, group (2) had higher body weight (1767.2 ± 64.1g). Also, total WBC count as normal healthy birds (57,750 ± 5,687/ µl), a total serum protein (5.1 ± 1.15 g/dl) and the lowest oocyst count. Histopathological examination during the recovery phase in Nigella ration showed mild infection of schizonts and inflammation of all layers of intestinal wall with crypt abscess composed of Eimeria schizonts and chronic inflammatory cells and parasitic granuloma composed of chronic inflammatory cells and fibrosis. These results are statistically significant. Thus, it can be concluded that Nigella sativa and curcumin have significant anticoccidial activity comparable to/ or better than Diclazoril.