Effects of probiotic and Bidens pilosa on the performance and gut health of chicken during induced Eimeria tenella infection

AIM In the present study we have examined the individual and combined protective mechanism of probiotic and Bidens pilosa ( B. pilosa) on the performance and gut health of chickens during Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) infection over a 29-day experimental trial. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of one hundred and fifty 1-day-old chickens were equally distributed into 5 treatment groups with three biological replicates: 2 groups were allocated as control groups (control group untreated unchallenged, CG and control positive untreated challenged, CPG) and 3 groups were fed diets with probiotic (PG), B. pilosa (BPG) and probiotic + B. pilosa (PG + BPG) and challenged with E. tenella. Birds of all groups were assessed for pre and post-infection body weights, oocysts shedding, caecal lesion scores and mRNA expression levels of apoptosis related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3), antioxidant enzymes (CAT and SOD 1), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) and tight junction proteins (CLDN 1 and ZO 1). Our results revealed that during infection (day 21-29), E. tenella challenged chickens significantly decreased the body weight compared with uninfected control chickens; however, there was no significant effect on body weight of chickens fed with probiotic, B. pilosa and probiotic + B. pilosa was observed. E. tenella challenged untreated birds increased (P < 0.05) oocysts shedding, destructive ratio of caeca and mortality as compared to treated challenged birds. CPG group up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 while down-regulated the pro-apoptosis protein Bax relative to PG, BPG and PG + BPG groups. Moreover, chickens fed probiotic, B. pilosa and probiotic + B. pilosa diets enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, pro-inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins with the comparison of control positive untreated challenged chickens. CONCLUSION These findings elaborated that feed supplementation of probiotic and B. pilosa (individually or in combination) appeared to be effective in inhibiting the occurrence of disease and decreasing the severity of Eimeria infection in chickens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY This study explained the underlying anti-coccidial mechanism in which probiotic and B. pilosa (individually and/or in combination) improve the performance of chicken and protect against gut inflammatory responses caused by E. tenella.