Ameliorative Effect of L-Carnitine against Hematological and Hepatorenal Alterations Induced by Cefquinome Sulfate in Male Albino Rats

The present study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effect of L-carnitine (LC) against possible deleterious effects of cefquinome sulfate (CS) on hematological, hepatorenal parameters and histopathological changes of some internal organs in male rat's model. Therefore, sixty mature male rats were equally assigned into four groups as following: The control group of rats was administered with two subcutaneous (SC) injections of physiological saline (vehicle of other drugs) (2ml/kg. b.wt once daily for 5 successive days and 2ml/kg. b.wt once daily for 56 successive days), the second group was injected subcutaneously with LC (200 mg/kg b.wt. once daily for 56 successive days), the third group was administered with SC injection with CS (50 mg/kg. b.wt once daily for 5 successive days) and the fourth group was injected subcutaneously with CS concomitantly with LC by the same doses at the same treatment periods as mentioned in 2nd and 3rd groups. The obtained results showed that administration of CS induced a significant (P≤ 0.05) increase in WBCs count and serum levels of alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and creatinine with significant (P≤ 0.05) decrease in PCV value and serum levels of albumin. Moreover, CS induced histopathological changes on liver and kidney tissues. Conversely, administration of LC concomitantly with CS ameliorates all previous hematological, biochemical, and histopathological alterations induced by CS. It could be concluded that CS induces mild to moderate troubles on blood picture, hepato-renal indices and histopathological findings which could be ameliorated by L-carnitine in male albino rats

Use of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles as Anticoccidial Agents in Broiler Chickens along with Its Impact on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Status and Hematobiochemical Profile

The impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the pathogenesis of coccidiosis in broiler chickens was tested. A total of 160 1-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into 4 groups (n = 40). Group 1: unchallenged, unmedicated; Group 2: challenged, unmedicated; Group 3: challenged, supplemented with diclazuril (1 ppm); Group 4: challenged, supplemented with ZnO-NPs (20 ppm). Mixed Eimeria species (E. maxima, E. acervulina, E. mivati, and E. tenella) of a commercial coccidial vaccine (FORTEGRA®) were used to perform the coccidial challenge by 15× of its vaccinal dose on the 14th day of age. Diclazuril and ZnO-NPs supplementation in Group 3 and 4, respectively, reduced the mortality rate due to coccidial challenge to 5.8% compared to 11.9% in Group 2. The growth performance was improved by ZnO-NPs in coccidiosis-infected group (p ≤ 0.05) compared to Group 2 and was comparable to that of Group 3 (p ≥ 0.05). The average oocyst count was lower in Groups 3 and 4 (7.8 × 103 and 14.3 × 103, respectively) than in Group 2 (67 × 103 oocysts). Group 3 had a decreased gross lesion score in duodenum and caecum (p ≤ 0.05) as well as jujenum and ileum (p ≥ 0.05) compared to Group 2; while the average lesion scores of all intestinal parts in Group 4 were significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05). However, diclazuril was superior to ZnO-NPs in reducing caecal lesion score (p ≤ 0.05). Plasma carotenoids levels were increased by diclazuril (p ≥ 0.05) and ZnO-NPs (p ≤ 0.05) supplementation compared to Group 2. Oxidative stress appeared on the fourth week post-challenge (pc) in Group 2 (p ≤ 0.05) compared to Group 1, while the dietary supplementation with either diclazuril or ZnO-NPs numerically decreased Malondialdhyde (p ≥ 0.05) and statistically increased antioxidant activity (p ≤ 0.05). Both medications significantly improved the PCV%, Hb% and RBCs count on the 6th-day and 4th-week pc (p ≤ 0.05) compared to Group 2, though this improvement was higher significantly in Group 4 than Group 3 on the 6th day pc (p ≤ 0.05). Neither coccidial challenge nor medications had an impact on the total WBCs count as well as organ index, except Bursa of fabricious index that significantly improved by ZnO-NPs on the 4th-week pc compared to Group 2. Coccidial challenge reduced total protein and globulin levels and increased the serum alanine aminotransferase, serum cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels (p ≤ 0.05) compared to Group 1, while those of both medicated groups (Group 3 and 4) were comparable to Group 1 (p ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, ZnO-NPs were found to be as effective as diclazuril against coccidiosis. However, further research is needed to fully comprehend its anticoccidial mechanisms