Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone, is isolated from the leafy portion of the Artemisia annua and has been known to be effective against Plasmodium species. Since the genera of Plasmodium and Eimeria(E) tenella are included the same order, Eucoccidiidae, it is presumed that artemisinin may also be effective against E tenella.
In order to study the anticoccididal effects of artemisinin, the chickens inoculated with E tenella were treated with artemisinin at different concentrations as feed additive and the results were compared to those of non-medicated, infected control (NIC) and non-medicated, non-infected control (NNC) group.
Artemisinin demonstrated anticoccidial effects by showing, compared to NIC group, improved results in all parameters, such as bloody diarrhea, lesion scores, the numbers of excreted oocystis in feces, body weight gain and feed conversion rate. Anticoccidial index (ACI) of artemisinin treated group (5ppm∼50ppm) was higher than that of NIC group. Improvements were greatest in the group treated with artemisinin 50ppm W th an ACI of 147.6.
These results indicate that artemisinin has anticoccidial effects on the Eimeria tenella.
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