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Background <p><i>Eimeria</i> infection causes substantial economic losses in poultry production. The frequent use of anticoccidial drugs has led to the development of resistant <i>Eimeria</i> species, necessitating the development of alternative treatments. Due to their antimicrobial properties, stability, and biocompatibility, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) have gained considerable attention, especially those synthesized using plant extracts. This study aimed to assess the anticoccidial efficacy of methanolic leaf extracts from <i>Artemisia judaica</i> and <i>Ziziphus spina-christi</i> loaded onto CuO-NPs against <i>Eimeria tenella</i> in broiler chickens.</p> Materials <p>Broilers were experimentally infected with <i>E. tenella</i> sporulated oocysts (25 × 10³) and treated with AJLE (AJLE), ZSCLE, their CuO-NP conjugates, or diclazuril as a positive control. Oocyst counts, lesion scores, biochemical indices, oxidative stress markers, and immune response were evaluated. Histopathological examination and transmission electron microscopy of cecal tissues were performed.</p> Results <p>The results demonstrated the efficacy of AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs against <i>E. tenella</i>, as evidenced by reduced oocyst counts to 32 × 10³ oocysts/g in the AJLE-CuO-NPs-treated group compared with 28 × 10³ oocysts/g in the diclazuril-treated group and 600 × 10³ oocysts/g in the infected untreated group. Lesion scores were minimal in diclazuril-, AJLE-CuO-NPs-, and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs-treated groups. AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs treatment improved blood glucose levels, recording 241 ± 1.53&#xa0;mg/dL and 255.67 ± 0.88&#xa0;mg/dL, respectively, and restored cholesterol levels to 174.33 ± 2.33&#xa0;mg/dL and 158.67 ± 4.7&#xa0;mg/dL, respectively. AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs treatment decreased oxidative stress; malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were 23.19 ± 0.74 µmol/L and 24.82 ± 0.49 µmol/L, respectively. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was 1.34 ± 0.03 mmol/L and 1.21 ± 0.05 mmol/L for AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs, respectively. AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs treatment enhanced immune responses. The relative gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in the AJLE-CuO-NPs-treated group was 3.38 ± 0.14, 2.24 ± 0.12, and 4.03 ± 0.19, respectively, while in the ZSCLE-CuO-NPs-treated group was 4.88 ± 0.18, 3.02 ± 0.14, and 6.50 ± 0.29, respectively, normalized to the GAPDH housekeeping gene. Notably, AJLE-CuO-NPs exhibited superior performance compared to ZSCLE-CuO-NPs.</p> Conclusions <p>AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs exhibited efficacy comparable to, though not superior to, diclazuril, suggesting potential as complementary or alternative anticoccidials for coccidiosis control in poultry.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Copper oxide nanoparticles loaded with Artemisia judaica and Ziziphus spina-christi extracts as alternative anticoccidials in broilers

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月21日

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  • Alaa Khatab,
  • Heba Wheeb,
  • Mostafa Mohamed,
  • Atef Nassar,
  • Ahmed Elbestawy,
  • Mahmoud AbouLaila,
  • Soad Menshawy

摘要

Background

Eimeria infection causes substantial economic losses in poultry production. The frequent use of anticoccidial drugs has led to the development of resistant Eimeria species, necessitating the development of alternative treatments. Due to their antimicrobial properties, stability, and biocompatibility, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) have gained considerable attention, especially those synthesized using plant extracts. This study aimed to assess the anticoccidial efficacy of methanolic leaf extracts from Artemisia judaica and Ziziphus spina-christi loaded onto CuO-NPs against Eimeria tenella in broiler chickens.

Materials

Broilers were experimentally infected with E. tenella sporulated oocysts (25 × 10³) and treated with AJLE (AJLE), ZSCLE, their CuO-NP conjugates, or diclazuril as a positive control. Oocyst counts, lesion scores, biochemical indices, oxidative stress markers, and immune response were evaluated. Histopathological examination and transmission electron microscopy of cecal tissues were performed.

Results

The results demonstrated the efficacy of AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs against E. tenella, as evidenced by reduced oocyst counts to 32 × 10³ oocysts/g in the AJLE-CuO-NPs-treated group compared with 28 × 10³ oocysts/g in the diclazuril-treated group and 600 × 10³ oocysts/g in the infected untreated group. Lesion scores were minimal in diclazuril-, AJLE-CuO-NPs-, and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs-treated groups. AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs treatment improved blood glucose levels, recording 241 ± 1.53 mg/dL and 255.67 ± 0.88 mg/dL, respectively, and restored cholesterol levels to 174.33 ± 2.33 mg/dL and 158.67 ± 4.7 mg/dL, respectively. AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs treatment decreased oxidative stress; malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were 23.19 ± 0.74 µmol/L and 24.82 ± 0.49 µmol/L, respectively. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was 1.34 ± 0.03 mmol/L and 1.21 ± 0.05 mmol/L for AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs, respectively. AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs treatment enhanced immune responses. The relative gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in the AJLE-CuO-NPs-treated group was 3.38 ± 0.14, 2.24 ± 0.12, and 4.03 ± 0.19, respectively, while in the ZSCLE-CuO-NPs-treated group was 4.88 ± 0.18, 3.02 ± 0.14, and 6.50 ± 0.29, respectively, normalized to the GAPDH housekeeping gene. Notably, AJLE-CuO-NPs exhibited superior performance compared to ZSCLE-CuO-NPs.

Conclusions

AJLE-CuO-NPs and ZSCLE-CuO-NPs exhibited efficacy comparable to, though not superior to, diclazuril, suggesting potential as complementary or alternative anticoccidials for coccidiosis control in poultry.

Graphical Abstract