Comparative anticoccidial activity of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and formic acid against Eimeria tenella in broiler chickens

Original Article The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anticoccidial effects of formic acid in contrast to HCl in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria tenella infection in comparison with the amprolium anticoccidial. For this purpose, a total of 225 chicks were placed 15 per pen with three pens per treatment. HCl (2000ppm), formic acid (5000ppm) and amproilum (at the dose rate of 125ppm) were given to the experimental groups in drinking water from 10 to 19th days of age. One group was kept as infected non medicated control and one as non infected non medicated control. At the 12th day of age, all the groups were inoculated orally with 75,000 sporulated oocysts except non infected non medicated control. Anticoccidial activity was evaluated on the basis of performance (weight gain, feed conversion ratio) and pathogenic (oocyst score, lesion score and mortality %age) parameters. Among medicated groups, the maximum anticoccidial effect was seen in the group medicated with 125ppm amprolium followed by 2000ppm HCl medicated group and 5000ppm formic acid medicated group. However, formic acid (5000ppm) showed maximum positive influence on weight gains and FCR. In summary, the lower doses of HCl and formic acid have the potential to be used as alternative to chemotherapeutic drugs for Eimeria tenella control. It is therefore suggested that further studies should be carried out to determine the possible minimum safe levels of HCl and formic acid with least toxic effects to be used as anticoccidial.