# Anti‐coccidial efficacy of Enteromorpha prolifera polysaccharide in indigenous chickens of Northwest Ethiopia

## TL;DR

This study shows that adding a seaweed polysaccharide to chicken feed can reduce coccidiosis symptoms and improve weight gain in local Ethiopian chickens.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the anti-coccidial efficacy of Enteromorpha prolifera polysaccharide in indigenous chickens for the first time.

## Key findings

- EP-supplemented chickens had significantly lower oocyst counts and less severe lesions.
- Chickens receiving EP showed 27.27% maximum protection against lesions and higher weight gain.
- The highest anti-coccidial index (146.98) was observed in EP-supplemented chickens.

## Abstract

A variety of bioactive compounds isolated from various botanical sources have been found to have therapeutic and immunotherapeutic effects on chicken coccidiosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the anti‐coccidial potential of Enteromorpha prolifera polysaccharide (EP) in indigenous chickens in Northwest Ethiopia.

A total of 78 male indigenous chickens were used for this study. The study had two treatment groups: (1) the EP non‐supplemented group (those fed on diets without EP and Eimeria oocyst inoculated) and (2) the EP group (those receiving diets supplemented with 400 mg EP/kg diet and Eimeria oocyst inoculated). Each treatment group had five replications. Following fourteen days of EP supplementation, 1.5 × 104 oocysts of mixed Eimeria species were inoculated into individual birds.

EP‐supplemented chicken showed significantly lower (p < 0.05) oocyst counts compared to non‐supplemented ones on 9 and 11 days post‐challenge. In addition, chickens in the EP‐supplemented group showed less severe lesion scores, with an average score of 1.33. Chickens that received EP showed a maximum of 27.27% protection against lesions. In contrast, the non‐supplemented chickens had a lower percentage of protection (19.83%). The maximum anti‐coccidial index value (146.98) was obtained from EP‐supplemented chickens. Chickens in the EP‐supplemented group exhibited a significantly higher (p < 0.05) weight gain.

Overall, the inclusion of EP in chickens' diets shows promise as a potential anti‐coccidial strategy. However, additional research is required to explore the mechanisms by which EP in chickens’ diet could involve in increasing the protection ability of chickens against coccidiosis.

• EP
+ chickens showed significantly lower oocyst counts and less severe lesion scores compared to EP
− chickens.

• Chickens receiving EP exhibited the maximum protection against lesions and higher weight gain.

• The results suggest that Enteromorpha polysaccharide has the potential to be used as an effective anti‐coccidial strategy in chicken diets.