Indian Journal of Poultry Science

Role of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alone and in combination with salinomycin in mitigating Eimeria tenella infection in broiler birds was evaluated along with their effect on serum IgY levels. Probiotics inclusion in feed was started from 8^th day of age onwards and all the birds except those in negative control group received 50,000 sporulated oocysts. The criteria of efficacy included mortality, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), oocyst counts, lesion scores and PCV. Indirect ELISA was employed to measure serum IgY levels. Only Lactobacillus acidophilus (without salinomycin) group recorded poor mean weight gain and FCR, however, all other groups were far better than positive control. Yeast groups proved even better than negative control. All probiotic fed groups produced a significant fall in oocyst output, whereas, lesion scores recorded in all of them were only marginally lower than that of positive control. The least fall in PCV was seen in Lactobacillus acidophilus group and all probiotic fed groups except yeast alone group recorded significantly lower fall as compared to the positive control. Only Lactobacillus acidophilus + salinomycin group recorded significantly elevated serum IgY levels while other groups showed insignificantly elevated levels. This study demonstrates the possible antagonistic action of probiotic cultures with E. tenella, at least during its heavy experimental challenge.