Valutazione in campo dell'efficacia di un prodotto fitogenico nel controllo della coccidiosi avicola

Avian coccidiosis remains one of the leading causes of economic losses in poultry production, affecting performance directly and, indirectly, through enteric dysbiosis. Growing pressure to reduce the use of synthetic anticoccidials has stimulated interest in phytogenic alternatives, yet field data on specific essential oil combinations under natural infection conditions remain limited. This study evaluated, under field conditions, the efficacy of a phytogenic product based on cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) and ginger (Zingiber officinale), administered at 1.5 kg/t of feed, compared with a conventional anticoccidial protocol (nicarbazin, narasin, salinomycin) in a commercial Ross 308 broiler farm (n=24,650 and 24,600 birds, 2 houses/group). Fecal oocyst counts (McMaster technique) were determined at 21, 28, 35 and 42 days. Lesion scores (Johnson & Reid, 1970) were assessed in spontaneously deceased birds at the same time points. Body weight was recorded at 7, 21, 31 and 50 days. The treated group showed an earlier peak in oocyst excretion (28 vs 35 days) compared with the control, with no statistically significant differences between groups for oocyst counts (Mann- Whitney, p=0.222), lesion scores (p=0.654) or body weight (paired t-test, p=0.861). The phytogenic product showed no statistically significant differences compared with to the conventional program, with a pattern consistent with an immunomodulatory mechanism rather than direct parasiticidal action. Therefore, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary field evidence supporting the potential use of the phytogenic product rather than as proof of equivalence.