Effect of <i>Artemisia annua</i> L. as Substitute to Sulfonamides (Sodium Sulfadimerzine) on Coccidiosis and Growth Performance in Rabbits

Coccidiosis is a disease caused by protozoa of the genus Eimeria which seriously affects young rabbits. Treatment based on the use of anticoccidial drugs is increasingly ineffective due to the rapid emergence of resistant strains of coccidia and the high cost of drugs. Consumer demand for rabbit products without chemical residues led to a growing interest in the use of medicinal plants as an alternative treatment for coccidiosis. The present study was carried out during the period of August to December 2020 to assess the anticoccidial effect of hydro-ethanolic extract of leaves of Artemisia annua L., in young rabbits. The antiparasitic efficacy of Artemisia extract was tested on 15 young rabbits (whose age varied between 7 and 9 weeks) divided into 5 lots of 3 animals. The average weight of these animals was 790 g. The results of this study show that the feces samples and the weight of young rabbits before administration of the treatment and the coprological examination (every 7 days for 4 weeks) show a fecal excretion reduction rate (FECRT) of 55.13% in the lot treated by sulfonamide. On the other hand, in animals received treatments extract of the leaves of Artemisia annua L., the average FECRT is evaluated at 69.64%, 79.22%, and 96.36% for respective doses of 400, 800 and 1200 mg/kg bodyweight and proves their anticoccidial effect. Furthermore, the variation in mean Eggs Per Gram (EPG) of coccidia and the average weekly weight gain (AWWG) of each lot were significant in the lots treated with hydro-ethanolic extract (P 0.05). The greatest reductions in oocystal excretion and weight gain obtained were those of lot 5, treated at 1200 mg/kg of hydro-ethanolic leaves extract of Artemisia annua L.