AUTHOR=Konmy Basile , Olounladé Pascal Abiodoun , Adjobimey Tomabu , Dansou Christian Cocou , Adoho Akouavi Carine Chimène , Tchetan Esaïe , Alowanou Georcelin Goué , Azando Erick Virgile Bertrand , Adjanohoun Adolphe , Doko Allou Sanni-yo , Baba-Moussa Lamine 

TITLE=In vivo anticoccidial activity and immune response of Moringa oleifera and Vernonia amygdalina leaves against Eimeria magna and Eimeria media in rabbits

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1173138

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1173138

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>The aims of this study were to determine the immune response and the anticoccidial activity induced by <italic>Moringa oleifera</italic> and <italic>Vernonia amygdalina</italic> leaves in rabbits infected with <italic>Eimeria magna</italic> and <italic>Eimeria media</italic>.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Thirty-five-day-old rabbits, free from coccidia, were infested with 2.10<sup>3</sup> oocysts of <italic>Eimeria magna</italic> and <italic>Eimeria media</italic>, then received the acetone extract of the leaves of <italic>Moringa oleifera</italic> and <italic>Vernonia amygdalina</italic> at different doses by oral gavage.</p></sec><sec><title>Results and discussion</title><p>The inhibition of the excretion of oocysts was evaluated by the McMaster technique and the levels of cytokines (IL-4 and IL-12) and immunoglobulin IgG were assayed by the ELISA method. The <italic>in vivo</italic> efficacy on <italic>E. magna</italic> and <italic>E. media</italic> oocysts was 95.43% and 96.53% for <italic>Moringa oleifera</italic> and <italic>Vernonia amygdalina</italic> at 1000 mg/kg bw against 98% for the positive control. Interestingly the plant extracts increased the production of interleukin (IL) and immunoglobulins (Ig) compared to controls. Plasma IL-4 levels (pg/ml) in rabbits were 128.94 and 131.38; those of IL-12 (pg/ml) were 395.55 and 426.56, and then for those of IgG (μg/ml) were 14.70 and 13.94 respectively with the acetone extracts of <italic>Moringa oleifera</italic> and <italic>Vernonia amygdalina</italic> on D14 PT at 1000 mg/kg bw. This study indicates that <italic>Moringa oleifera</italic> and <italic>Vernonia amygdalina</italic> can be used as an alternative to synthetic anticoccidials. These plants could be used to increase the resistance of the immune system of rabbits to infestations of Eimeria species in rabbit farms.</p></sec>