�Controlling coccidiosis infection
with plant extracts
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To ;nd out more about how plant extracts
can be used to ;ght coccidiosis, read:
✷ Immunostimulation. Some plant-based polysaccharides, in particular,
exert an immunostimulating
e;ect. By mimicking an infectious
agent, certain polysaccharides are
able to trigger the non-specific
immune response. For example,
immunoactive polysaccharides
from mushrooms and plants have a
synergistic action with vaccination.
✷ Immunomodulation. Certain
plant extract with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties can have an
immunomodulating e;ect.
Antioxidants: an infection such as
coccidiosis leads to the production
and release of nitric oxide radicals
(NO•) by macrophages. If there is a
disequilibrium between the body’s
endogenous antioxidant defenses and
the production of free radicals, the
animal is subject to oxidative stress.
This leads to reduced performances
and can also limit the response
against infections in the case where
immune cells are damaged.
The acute phase of primary coccidial
infection, ( 5-7 days post infection) which
corresponds to oocysts shedding, is
usually a period of important tissue
damage: this is known to be associated
with important oxidative stress. In
this case, an intake of plant-based
exogenous antioxidant capable of
scavenging free radicals can help to
limit oxidative stress and prevent the
damage caused by free radicals on cell
lipid and protein constituents, and also
on genetic material.
Various natural compounds,
known for their antioxidant
properties, have been shown
to be beneficial in the fight
against coccidia: grape seed
proanthocyanidins protect against E
tenella, with positive e;ects on body
weight, mortality and lesion scores.
❯ Dr Virginie Noirot is nutrition
research manager in Laboratoires
Phodé SAS.
