Efficacy of Vitis vinifera leaf extract and its biosynthesized silver nanoparticles against Eimeria tenella in broilers: Effects on performance, anticoccidial indices, and cecal integrity.

This study evaluated the anticoccidial efficacy of Vitis vinifera leaf extract (VVLE), biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and their combination (VVLE-AgNPs) in broiler chickens experimentally challenged with Eimeria tenella. A total of 150 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six treatments: infected untreated control (IUC), Tolicox-treated (reference anticoccidial), VVLE, AgNPs, VVLE-AgNPs, and unchallenged untreated control (UUC). Except for the UUC, all birds were orally challenged on day 15 with 1 104 sporulated Eimeria tenella oocysts per chick and received their respective oral treatments for 7 days post-inoculation. Parasitological, clinical, growth performance, carcass, and cecal health parameters were evaluated at 7 days post-infection. Infection markedly increased oocyst output, bloody diarrhea, lesion scores, and cecal damage while impairing growth performance in the IUC group (P < 0.05). All treatments reduced oocyst output, with VVLE-AgNPs and Tolicox producing the greatest reductions and showing comparable efficacy group (P < 0.05). Birds receiving VVLE-AgNPs also exhibited improvements in average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, performance index, and anticoccidial index, approaching values observed in the unchallenged control and exceeding those of VVLE or AgNPs alone group (P < 0.05). Carcass yield was not affected (P > 0.05). Gross cecal morphometry and histopathological examination demonstrated severe tissue damage in infected untreated birds, whereas VVLE-AgNPs preserved cecal architecture and markedly reduced pathological lesions, with responses comparable to those of Tolicox. In conclusion, VVLE-AgNPs effectively reduced parasite burden, alleviated intestinal damage, and improved productive performance, supporting the potential of plant-mediated AgNPs as a sustainable alternative to conventional anticoccidial drugs for controlling coccidiosis in broilers.