Effect of combined administration of enterocin 4231 and sage in rabbits

Enterocin (Ent) 4231, produced by non-rabbit origin strain Enterococcus faecium CCM 4231 was used in combination with sage plant extract in rabbits with the aim to check their antimicrobial activity against microbiota, their effect on immunological, biochemical blood parameters, values of volatile fatty acids in caecum, Eimeria sp. oocysts occurrence and selected parameters of rabbits meat. The animals were divided into three experimental groups (EG1-Ent 4231; EG2- sage; EG3- Ent 4231 with sage) and control group (CG); 24 rabbits in each. Natural substances (NS) were administered for 21 days. The experiment lasted for 42 days. The reduction of microbiota in faeces was observed in EG3 at day 21 by a decrease in the numer of coagulase-positive staphylococci (P<0.01) in comparison with that determined in CG. The bacterial counts in the caecum were lower than those found in faeces. A decrease in the numer of Pseudomonas-like sp. in caeca of the experimental groups was observed at days 21 and 42 (difference in range 0.40-1.87 log cycles) comparing with that determined in CG. At day 21, a significant increase in phagocytic activity (PA, P<0.001) was found in blood of rabbits from EG2 comparing with that observed in CG. At day 42, a significant increase in PA (P<0.001) was determined in all experimental groups in comparison with CG. At day 21, in caecal content of EG3 significantly higher values of lactic acid were observed (P<0.05) in comparison with those found in CG. The reduction of Eimeria sp. oocysts was demonstrated after application of each of NS. Addition of NS did not influence biochemical parameters, meat quality of the animals and does not influence negatively the health status of rabbits

Medicinal plants - prophylactic and therapeutic options for gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets lead to significant economic losses in livestock husbandry. A high morbidity has been reported for diarrhea (calves ≤ 35 %; piglets ≤ 50 %) and for respiratory diseases (calves ≤ 80 %; piglets ≤ 40 %). Despite a highly diverse etiology and pathophysiology of these diseases, treatment with antimicrobials is often the first-line therapy. Multi-antimicrobial resistance in pathogens results in international accordance to strengthen the research in novel treatment options. Medicinal plants bear a potential as alternative or additional treatment. Based on the versatile effects of their plant specific multi-component-compositions, medicinal plants can potentially act as 'multi-target drugs'. Regarding the plurality of medicinal plants, the aim of this systematic review was to identify potential medicinal plant species for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases and for modulation of the immune system and inflammation in calves and piglets. RESULTS Based on nine initial sources including standard textbooks and European ethnoveterinary studies, a total of 223 medicinal plant species related to the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases was identified. A defined search strategy was established using the PRISMA statement to evaluate 30 medicinal plant species starting from 20'000 peer-reviewed articles published in the last 20 years (1994-2014). This strategy led to 418 references (257 in vitro, 84 in vivo and 77 clinical trials, thereof 48 clinical trials in veterinary medicine) to evaluate effects of medicinal plants and their efficacy in detail. The findings indicate that the most promising candidates for gastrointestinal diseases are Allium sativum L., Mentha x piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L.; for diseases of the respiratory tract Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH, Thymus vulgaris L. and Althea officinalis L. were found most promising, and Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH, Camellia sinensis (L.) KUNTZE, Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and Origanum vulgare L. were identified as best candidates for modulation of the immune system and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS Several medicinal plants bear a potential for novel treatment strategies for young livestock. There is a need for further research focused on gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets, and the findings of this review provide a basis on plant selection for future studies