Probiotics lessens pathological changes in rabbits infected with hepatic coccidiosis

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits.
Methods: A total of 30 White New Zealand rabbits of both sexes, aged 4-6 weeks and weighing 600-700 g, were divided into three groups. The first group of rabbits received probiotics (100 mg/L) in drinking water for 12 days, while the second group of rabbits served as a positive control. Both groups were challenged with 1×10⁵ Eimeria stiedae oocysts. The third group of uninfected rabbits served as the negative control. The effects of probiotic treatment on fecal oocysts output, body growth gain, liver enzymes, red blood cell count, hemoglobin level, packed cell volume, lymphocytes count and histopathological lesions were observed.
Results: Compared to the positive control, rabbits treated with probiotics exhibited no diarrhea or mortality, and there was a significant reduction in fecal oocysts output. Additionally, body growth gain was significantly higher in probiotic-treated rabbits compared to the positive control. Furthermore, liver enzymes and white blood cell counts were decreased in treated rabbits, while red blood cells, hemoglobin, packed cell volume and lymphocyte count were elevated. Severe histopathological lesions were observed in the bile ducts and hepatic parenchyma of positive control rabbits compared to probiotic-treated and negative control groups. The study findings were statistically significant, with P values ranging from less than 0.001 to less than 0.05.
Conclusions: Probiotics significantly improve the health performance of rabbits with hepatic coccidiosis by reducing pathological changes and stabilizing hematological parameters. Additionally, this product maintains substantial normal liver enzymes levels in infected rabbits, making it a safe and effective treatment for hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits.

Keywords

Probiotics / Hepatic coccidiosis / Pathological changes / Rabbits

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge the help from College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Baghdad, Iraq.

Funding

This study received no extramural funding.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Authors’ contributions

Kalef DA designed the experiment, analyzed the data statisticlly, and prepared the manuscript. Jameel MS conducted the clinical study and performed the literature search. Both authors approved the final draft.

References

[1] Nistor E, Bampidis V, Pacala N, Pentea M, Tozer J, Prundeanu H. Nutrient content of rabbit meat as compared to chicken, beef and pork meat. J Anim Prod Adv 2013; 3(4): 172.

[2] El-Shahawi GA, El-Fayomi HM, Abdel-Haleem HM. Coccidiosis of domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Egypt: Light Microscopic Study . Parasitol Res 2011; 110(1): 251-258.

[3] Hrženjak NM, Zadravec M, Švara T, Račnik J. Hepatic coccidiosis in two pet rabbits. J Exot Pet Med 2021; 36: 53-56.

[4] Yin G, Goraya MU, Huang J, Suo X, Huang Z, Liu X. Survey of coccidial infection of rabbits in Sichuan Province, Southwest China. Springerplus 2016; 5(1): 870.

[5] Hamid PH, Prastowo S, Kristianingrum YP. Intestinal and hepatic coccidiosis among rabbits in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Vet World 2019; 12(8): 1256-1260.

[6] Ogolla KO, Gathumbi PK, Waruiru RM, Okumu PO, Chebet J, Kitala PM. Efficacy of sulphachloropyrazine, amprolium hydrochloride, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, and diclazuril against experimental and natural rabbit coccidiosis. J Vet Med 2018; 54022469.

[7] García-Rubio VG, Bautista-Gómez LG, Martínez-Castañeda JS, Romero-Núñez C. Multicausal etiology of the enteric syndrome in rabbits from Mexico. Rev Argent Microbiol 2017; 49(2): 132-138.

[8] Murshed M, Aljawdah HM, Mares M, Al-Quraishy S. In vitro: The effects of the anticoccidial activities of Calotropis procera leaf extracts on Eimeria stiedae oocysts isolated from rabbits . Molecules 2023; 28(8): 3352.

[9] Hegazi AG, Shanawany EE, El-Houssiny AS, Hassan SE, Desouky HM, El-Metenawy TM, et al. Attenuation of pathogenesis of Eimeria stiedae sporulated oocysts using Egyptian alginate propolis nanoparticles . BMC Vet Res 2023; 19(1): 127.

[10] Huismans M, Hermans K, Stock E. Ultrasonographic diagnosis of hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits. Vlaams Diergeneeskd Tijdschr 2022; 91(2): 55-61.

[11] Peeters JE, Halen P, Meulemans G. Efficacy of robenidine in the prevention of rabbit coccidiosis. Br Vet J 1979; 135(4): 349-354.

[12] El-Ghoneimy A, El-Shahawy I. Evaluation of amprolium and toltrazuril efficacy in controlling natural intestinal rabbit coccidiosis. Iran J Vet Res 2017; 18(3): 164.

[13] Cordaillat-Simmons M, Rouanet A, Pot B. Live biotherapeutic products: The importance of a defined regulatory framework. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52(9): 1397-1406.

[14] Bhatt RS, Agrawal AR, Sahoo A. Effect of probiotic supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics of growing Chinchilla Rabbits. J Appl Anim Res 2016; 45(1): 304-309.

[15] Aziz NH, Ahmed ZO, Hassan AH, Mustafa NA. Effects of the probiotic miaclost (Bacillus subtilis and Entrococus feacium) on growth performance, hematological values and small intestinal morphology of broiler chicks . Earth Environ Sci 2019; 388(1): 012030.

[16] Simonová MP, Chrastinová L, Lauková A. Effect of beneficial strain Enterococcus faecium EF9A isolated from Pannon White rabbit on growth performance and meat quality of Rabbits . Ital J Anim Sci 2020; 19(1): 650-655.

[17] Lauková A, Pogány Simonová M, Chrastinová Ľ, Kandričáková A, Ščerbová J, Plachá I, et al. Beneficial effect of bacteriocin-producing strain Enterococcus durans ED 26E/7 in model experiment using broiler rabbits . Czech J Anim Sci 2017; 62(4): 168-177.

[18] Guo M, Wu F, Hao G, Qi Q, Li R, Li N, et al. Bacillus subtilis improves immunity and disease resistance in rabbits . Front Immunol 2017; 8: 354.

[19] Phuoc TL, Jamikorn U. Effects of probiotic supplement (Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus) on feed efficiency, growth performance, and microbial population of weaning rabbits . Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 2016; 30(2): 198-205.

[20] Haug A, Williams RB, Larsen S. Counting coccidial oocysts in chicken faeces: A comparative study of a standard McMaster technique and a new rapid method. Vet Parasitol 2006; 136(3-4): 233-242.

[21] Jameel MS, Kalef DA. Investigations on the role of commercial probiotics on New Zealand white rabbits experimentally infected with Eimeria stiedae . Comp Parasitol 2023; 90(1): 27-33.

[22] Cringoli G, Rinaldi L, Veneziano V, Capelli G, Scala A. The influence of flotation solution, sample dilution and the choice of McMaster Slide Area (volume) on the reliability of the McMaster technique in estimating the faecal egg counts of gastrointestinal strongyles and Dicrocoelium dendriticum in Sheep . Vet Parasitol 2004; 123(1-2): 121-131.

[23] Abu-Akkada SS, Oda SS, Ashmawy KI. Garlic and hepatic coccidiosis: Prophylaxis or treatment? Trop Anim Health Prod 2010; 42(7): 1337-1343.

[24] Gomez-Bautista M, Garcia MV, Rojo-Vazquez FA. The levels of total protein and protein fractions in the serum of rabbits infected with Eimeria stiedai . Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 1986; 61(4): 393-400.

[25] Buha A, Milovanović V, Antonijević B, Bulat Z, Matović V. Environmental security assessment and management of obsolete pesticides in Southeast Europe. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security. Springer Dordrecht; 2013. p. 287-294.

[26] Abdalhakim S, Abdelhamid F, Hamed M, Abdalla O. The effect of dietary supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance, some selective hematological, biochemical and antioxidant parameters in new zealand white rabbits . Mansoura Vet Med J 2018; 19(1): 383-399.

[27] Aebi H. Catalase in vitro. Method Enzymol 1984; 105: 121-126.

[28] Bochyńska D, Lloyd S, Restif O, Hughes K. Eimeria stiedae causes most of the white-spotted liver lesions in wild European rabbits in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom . J Vet Diagn Invest 2022; 34(2): 199-205.

[29] Bedossa P, Poitou C, Veyrie N, Bouillot JL, Basdevant A, Paradis V, et al. Histopathological algorithm and scoring system for evaluation of liver lesions in morbidly obese patients. Hepatology 2012; 56(5): 1751-1759.

[30] Alturkistani HA, Tashkandi FM, Mohammedsaleh ZM. Histological Stains: A literature review and case study. Glob J Health Sci 2015; 8(3): 72.

[31] Nawab A, Liu W, Li G, Ibtisham F, Fox DP, Zhao Y, et al. The potential role of probiotics (nutraceuticals) in gut health of domestic animals: An alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. J Hell Vet Med Soc 2019; 69(4): 1169.

[32] Xiccato G, Trocino A, Sartori A, Queaque PI. Effect of dietary starch level and source on performance, caecal fermentation and meat quality in growing rabbits. World Rabbit Sci 2010; 10(4): 147-157.

[33] El-Ghany A, A W. Coccidiosis: A parasitic disease of significant importance in rabbits. World Vet J 2020; 10(4): 499-507.

[34] Zawistowska-Rojek A, Zaręba T, Tyski S. Microbiological testing of probiotic preparations. Intern J Environ Res Publ Health 2022; 19(9): 5701.

[35] Wang X, Zhang P, Zhang X. Probiotics regulate gut microbiota: An effective method to improve immunity. Molecules 2021; 26(19): 6076.

[36] Ayyanna R, Ankaiah D, Arul V. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus mucosae AN1 and Lactobacillus fermentum SNR1 in wistar albino rats . Front Microbiol 2018; 9: 3063.

[37] Kim KT, Kim JW, Kim SI, Kim S, Nguyen TH, Kang CH. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect and probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria isolated from canine and feline feces. Microorganisms 2021; 9(9): 1971.

[38] Rabie SAH, Abuelwafa WA, Hussein NM. Occurrence of Eimeria species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Qena Governorate, upper Egypt . J Parasit Dis 2022; 46(3): 811-832.

[39] Liu L, Zeng D, Yang M, Wen B, Lai J, Zhou Y, et al. Probiotic Clostridium butyricum improves the growth performance, immune function, and gut microbiota of weaning rex rabbits . Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2018; 11(4): 1278-1292.

[40] Raheem A, Liang L, Zhang G, Cui S. Modulatory effects of probiotics during pathogenic infections with emphasis on immune regulation. Front Immunol 2021; 12: 616713.

[41] Racanelli V, Rehermann B. The liver as an immunological organ. Hepatology 2006; 43(2 Supplement 1): S54-62.

[42] Rafid KA, Al-Naimi RAS, Abed HH, Al-Tace EH. The therapeutic effect of Nigella sativa L. seeds oil on experimentally infected rabbits with hepatic coccidiosis . Iraqi J Vet Med 2015; 39(1): 16-22.

[43] Oso AO, Idowu OMO, Haastrup AS, Ajibade AJ, Olowonefa KO, Aluko AO, et al. Growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, caecal fermentation, ileal morphology and caecal microflora of growing rabbits fed diets containing probiotics and prebiotics. Livest Sci 2013; 157(1): 184-190.

[44] Simonová MP, Chrastinová L, Lauková A. Dietary supplementation of a bacteriocinogenic and probiotic strain of Enterococcus faecium CCM7420 and its effect on the mineral content and quality of musculus longissimus dorsi in rabbits . Anim Prod Sci 2016; 56(12): 2140.

[45] Pogány Simonová M, Lauková A, Žitňan R, Chrastinová L. Effect of rabbit-origin enterocin-producing probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium CCM7420 application on growth performance and gut morphometry in Rabbits . Czech J Anim Sci 2015; 60(11): 509-512.

[46] Isolauri E, Kirjavainen PV, Salminen S. Probiotics: A role in the treatment of intestinal infection and inflammation? Gut 2002; 50(Supplement 3): 54-59.

[47] Ezema C, Eze DC. Determination of the effect of probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on growth performance and hematological parameters of rabbits . Comp Clin Pathol 2012; 21: 73-76.

[48] Allam T, AbdelGaber M, Thabet N, AbouLaila M, Elkhatam A. Clinicopathological effects of diclazuril prophylaxis and treatment on rabbits experimentally infected with Eimeria stiedae . Damanhour J Vet Sci 2020; 4(1): 20-28.

[49] Rolfe RD. The role of probiotic cultures in the control of gastrointestinal Health. J Nutr 2000; 130(2S Suppl): 396S-402S.

[50] Aattouri N, Bouras M, Tome D, Marcos A, Lemonnier D. Oral ingestion of lactic-acid bacteria by rats increases lymphocyte proliferation and interferon-γ production. Brit J Nutr 2002; 87(4): 367-373.

[51] El-Ashram SA, Aboelhadid SM, Abdel-Kafy ESM, Hashem SA, Mahrous LN, Farghly EM, et al. Prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of prebiotic supplementation against intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits. Animals 2019; 9(11): 965.

[52] Tang SG, Sieo CC, Ramasamy K, Saad WZ, Wong HK, Ho YW. Performance, biochemical and haematological responses, and relative organ weights of laying hens fed diets supplemented with prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic. BMC Vet Res 2017; 13(1): 248.

[53] Darma A, Athiyyah AF, Ranuh RG, Endaryanto A, Budiono B, Marto Sudarmo S. Effects of probiotics on the enhancement of the innate mucosal immune response against pathogenic bacteria. Iran J Microbiol 2020; 12(5): 445-450.

[54] Nanjundaiah YS, Wright DA, Baydoun AR, Khaled Z, Ali Z, Dean P, et al. Modulation of macrophage function by lactobacillus-conditioned medium. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8: 723.