EFFICACY OF HAEMOLYMPH OF MARINE GASTROPOD, TELESCOPIUM TELESCOPIUM ON EIMERIA TENELLA INFECTION IN BROILER CHICKEN

Anticoccidial efficacy of haemolymph (HL) of marine gastropod, Telescopium telescopium was explored in broiler chicken infected with Eimeria tenella. Seventy-five broiler chickens were divided into five equal groups. Birds of Gr. I, Gr. II, Gr. III, Gr. IV and Gr. V was maintained as uninfected control, infected control, HL treated, HL control and levamisole treated birds, respectively. Birds of Gr. III and Gr. IV were injected with HL intraperitoneally @ 3 mg of protein / Kg b. wt. and levamisole was injected subcutaneously @ 7.5mg/Kg b.wt., to the birds of Gr. V on the 25th day of age. Birds of Gr. II, Gr. III and Gr. V were orally infected with 21x103 sporulated oocysts on the 32nd day of age and then parasitological, haemato-biochemical, and performance parameters were measured at weekly interval from 0-day post-infection (DPI) to 14 DPI. Treatment with HL caused a significant (p<0.05) reduction in oocyst output compared to infected control birds (Gr. II). Haematological parameters and serum protein and mineral concentration were also improved (p<0.05) in HL-treated birds during the recovery phase of infection compared to Gr. II and Gr. V. Performances of the infected birds were also significantly (p<0.05) improved in HL-treated birds compared to other infected birds. Results of the present study indicated that the haemolymph of marine gastropod, Telescopium telescopium has enough potential for developing as a non-chemical anticoccidial agent for controlling caecal coccidiosis.