The effect of sodium bisulfate and coccidiostat on intestinal lesions and growth performance of Eimeria spp. challenged broilers

ABSTRACT Coccidiosis is a high prevalence disease that annually entails huge costs for the poultry industry. Control of coccidiosis in poultry production is based on the use of coccidiostats and vaccines. However, along with the problem of drug resistance, there is a concern about food safety and drug residues in poultry products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sodium bisulfate (SBS) in comparison with monensin (M), and their combination (SBSM) effects on controlling coccidiosis in broilers. In a randomized design, three hundred chickens (ROSS 308) divided into five treatments and four replications (fifteen birds per replicate). All birds, except the negative control, were orally inoculated four Eimeria species on 14 d of age. Treatments included: negative control (NC): unsupplemented basal diet non-challenged; positive control (PC): basal diet unsupplemented, challenge with Eimeria spp; basal diet supplemented with 5 g/kg of SBS; basal diet supplemented with 1 g/kg of M; and a basal diet supplemented with 5 g/kg SBS and 1 g/kg M (SBSM). Oocyst shedding per gram of faecal sample (OPG) from each experimental unit was counted on 5-14 days post-inoculation (PI). Two chicks from each experimental unit were euthanized in order to investigate intestinal lesions on day 5 PI. The NC birds showed the highest body weight gain (BWG) and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR). The birds in the SBSM group had improved feed consumption (FC) compared to the M group in the pre-challenge period (P