Salmonella Enteritidis Infection in Poultry: Clinical Signs, Impact on Growth Performance and Efficacy of Treatment with Zehneria Scabra Leaves’ Extract in Quails

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and growth promoting activity of the ethanolic extract of Zehneria scabra in quails infected with Salmonella enteritidis. Animals were divided into six groups of twelve animals each corresponding to six treatments: T0 (uninfected and untreated group of animals), T0-(infected and untreated group), T0+(infected and treated with Oxytetracyclin), T1, T2, T3: infected but treated with 9mg/kg, 18mg/kg and 37 mg/kg of plant extract, respectively).The results showed that infection led to depression, ruffled feathers (sign of fever), greenish-yellow diarrhoea, drowsiness, weight loss, and loss of appetite. After drug administration there was a decrease in bacterial load starting from the second day up to total cancellation at day 16. Infection (T-) significantly reduced (p<0.05) the weight gain compared with the neutral group (T0). 16 day-post-infection, weight gain was increased while feed conversion ratio was lower in treatment with 9mg/kg of plant extract, compared to the control negative group (T-). In conclusion, Z. scabra extract can be successfully used against Salmonella enteritidis-induced avian salmonellosis and wipe off the negative effects (clinical signs) caused by infection. This plant can be used at a dose of 9 mg/kg as a substitute for growth promoting antibiotics.