Clinicopathological Studies on Neem and Ginger Effects as Feed Additives in Normal and E. coli Infected Weaned Rabbits

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt

2 Animal Health Research Institute, Zagazig, Egypt

Abstract

The present study was performed to investigate the clinicopathological effects of neem and ginger as feed additives. One hundred and twenty weaned White New Zealand rabbits were divided into 6 equal groups. Group (1) kept as control. Groups (2 and 5) received ration contained neem leaves daily (5% of diet). Groups (3 and 6) received ration contained ginger powder daily (2% of diet). Groups (4, 5 and 6) were experimentally infected by E. coli (O103 once orally with a dose of 3 ml of suspension containing 3x107 CFU at the end of the 4th week of experiment. The results revealed normal parameters in none infected as well as neem and ginger treated groups (1, 2 and 3). However a significant decrease in the serum total protein, albumin, globulin and catalase levels (CAT) on the 1st, 3rd and 15th day PI was observed in infected non treated animals (Group 4). On the other hand a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde level (MDA), phagocytic percentage and phagocytic index were observed in the same group. In Groups 5 and 6; animals showed a significant increase in total protein, albumin, globulin, CAT and a significant decrease in the other parameters comparing with the infected group.It could be concluded that both  neem  and ginger  can be used as feed additives in rabbit ration to enhance hepatic, renal and antioxidant activities beside  cell mediated immunity .Moreover, Neem  was better than ginger in amelioration of   the harmful effects of E. coli infection 

Keywords

Main Subjects