Anticoccidial effects of the root bark of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz (Rutaceae) extract (
DDE) were evaluated in chickens following oral
infection with Eimeria (E.) tenella. Three-day-old chickens (
n=30) were assigned to three groups (control, untreated, and
DDE 0.1% treated). Chickens were fed a standard diet supplemented with or without
DDE for 1 week prior to
infection with E. tenella (10,000 sporulated oocysts per chicken). The effects of
DDE on E. tenella
infection were assessed by two parameters; fecal oocysts shedding and
body weights gain. The
DDE-fed chickens produced significantly reduced fecal oocysts (P<0.05) when compared to the E. tenella-infected group fed standard diet. Also,
DDE-based diet, improved
body weight loss caused by E. tenella
infection. Our data demonstrated that
DDE had remarkable anticoccidial activities against E. tenella. This finding might have implications for the development of anticoccidial
drug. This study is the first to demonstrate anticoccidial effect of
DDE on Eimeria parasites.