Chicken coccidiosis is a protozoal disease that seriously threatens the poultry industry. It causes very significant losses to China’s poultry industry every year. No effective vaccine has yet been developed, and treatment still relies on ionophores and chemically synthesized drugs. Most chicken coccidiosis drugs currently available on the market have corresponding drug-resistant strains, and even cross-resistant strains.
Studies have shown that a single Chinese medicinal herb can effectively treat coccidial infection. For example, Uncaria, Bai Tou Weng, Eclipta, Artemisia annua, and Melia root have all shown good efficacy.
Among these, the anticoccidial index of an Uncaria preparation can reach the same level as that of the diclazuril control group. An aqueous extract of Bai Tou Weng can significantly reduce the number of bloody droppings and oocysts, markedly alleviate cecal lesions, and significantly improve chickens’ survival rate and relative weight gain.
In addition to single-herb medicines, many compound Chinese herbal preparations can achieve the efficacy of highly effective anticoccidial drugs in treating chicken coccidial infection, such as Uncaria compound, Bai Tou Weng and Sophora Powder, and Five-Herb Decoction. Of these, Bai Tou Weng and Sophora Powder and Five-Herb Decoction are the two most effective formulas; a Chinese herbal preparation at 0.5% can achieve a highly effective coccidiocidal effect.
Chinese and Western medicines can also be used together or in rotation. Combined use and rotational use of Chinese and Western medicines can enhance the efficacy of Chinese medicines while greatly reducing the amount of Western medicine used, provided that a high anticoccidial index is maintained. These approaches act quickly to prevent and treat chicken coccidiosis and can also prevent the development of drug resistance. In addition, Chinese medicines not only have a direct anticoccidial effect but can also enhance the efficacy of antibiotics against chicken coccidiosis, making this a highly promising treatment approach.