Objectives: The present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of clove powder and thyme oil against experimentally-induced candidiasis in broiler chicken.
Design: Randomized controlled experimental study.
Animals: One hundred and twenty five chicken of one month old were used in this study
Procedures: Chicken were randomly allocated into 5 equal groups of 25 bird each. The first group was used as a negative control which received no treatment. The second group was experimentally infected with candida (C. albicans), and served as a positive control. Meanwhile, the third, fourth and fifth groups were also experimentally infected with candida, in addition to receiving clove powder (2 %), thyme oil (200 ml/kg) in diet and fluconazole (5 mg/kg) respectively, for 10 days after the appearance of the symptoms of candida. The symptoms included delayed gastrointestinal transit times, static crop or sour crop, anorexia and regurgitation. The normal thin wall of the crop become thickened with a complete crop stasis.
Results: Administration of clove powder and thyme oil improved the symptoms induced by C. albicans and increased PCV %, ALT and AST level, with a decrease in erythrocyte count and total leukocyte count. Clove powder increased creatinine levels, while thyme oil decreased them. The tested plants induced marked histopathological alteration in crop, lung, intestine and gizzard of treated birds.
Conclusion and clinical relevance: Clove powder and thyme oil can be used as an alternative medicine for the treatment of candidiasis in chicken.