Effect of Echinacea purpurea and Trigonella foenum-graecum extract on immunity and milk parameters in Awassi ewes -

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate an experimental Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) bacterin and an indirect ELISA system to assess quantitatively the acquired immunity to the vaccine and-or herbal extract of Echinacea purpurea (EP) and fenugreek; and also to evaluate the above mentioned herbal extract on milk parameters in Awassi Ewes. Four treatments of the ewes were included in the experimental design, with six ewes- treatment. The first treatment (T1) had the controls that were non-vaccinated and non-treated with herbal extract. The T2 ewes were only treated with herbal extract. The T3 and T4 ewes were vaccinated at D1 (initiation of trial) and D10, while the T4 ewes were additionally administered the herbal extract. Blood was collected from the jugular vein of all ewes at D1, D10, D21 and D45 and milk was collected at D1, D10, D21, and D45. The construction of the vaccine and the ELISA are detailed within the manuscript. The ELISA was able to detect quantitatively the significant acquired primary and secondary immunity to the vaccine in T3 and T4 ewes, compared to their low level of background immunities at initiation the experiment (p0.05). In addition, the ELISA detected the absence of seroconversion at all blood sampling times (p0.05) in T1 control ewes, and in the T2 ewes that were given only the herbal extract (p0.05). Moreover, the ELISA was able to uncover the significant seroconversion of secondary immune response in T4 ewes at D21 compared to that at D10 (p0.05), and the absence of significant seroconversion of secondary response in T3 ewes. With respect to milk parameters which are Milk decreasepercent, SNF, Protein, Density, Lactose, and Fat, there was no significant differences among the experimental groups (p0.05); although vaccinated and herb administered ewes showed higher values for the mentioned milk parameters. This is the first work in literature that reports the need to supplement the vaccination by the experimental SE bacterin with daily oral intake of 250 mg and 610 mg of EP and Fenugreek