6.3.2- Use of plants for pig health (USAMV)

Based on the in vitro tests carried out to evaluate the anti-parasitic, antibacterial and immune modulating effects of traditionally most used and readily available plants (C. officinalis, S. hortensis L., C. sativum, A. absinthium L., A. sativum and C. pepo), powders of those were added to the fodder administered to the pigs on selected low-input outdoor farms from North Western and Central Romania.The examination revealed polyspecific parasitic infections with Balantidium coli, Eimeria spp., Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, Oesophagostomum spp., Strongyloides ransomi and Criptosporidium spp. Thus, the biochemical identification revealed strains of Escherichia coli, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and Pseudomonas oleorans in the Gram-negative group and Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus vitulinus, Staphylococcus lentus, Bacillus thuringensis and Aerococcus viridans in the Gram-positive one. All tested plants (Artemisia absinthium, Calendula officinalis, Cucurbita pepo, Coriandrum sativum, Satureja hortensis, Allium sativum) had anti-protozoal and anthelmintic potential at different intensities. Further, these powdered plants diminished the antimicrobial resistant bacterial load and improved the immune profile, depending on age and plant category.

Papers

• Prevalence of swine gastrointestinal parasites in two free-range farms from Nord-West region of Romania; Baies M.H., et al. – Pathogens Vol 11 – 2022
• The In vitro anticoccidial activity of some herbal extracts against Eimeria oocysts isolated from piglets; Baies M.H., et al. – Pathogens Vol. 12, Issue 2 – 2023
• The effects of Coriandrum sativum and Cucurbita pepo L. against gastrointestinal parasites in swine: An In vivo study; Baies M.H., et al. – Microorganisms Vol 11 – 2023
• Satureja hortensis and Calendula officinalis L., two Romanian plants, with in vivo antiparasitic potential against digestive parasites of swine; Baies M.H., et al. – Microorganisms 11 – 2023
• In vivo assessment of the antiparasitic effects of Allium sativum and Artemisia absinthium L. against gastrointestinal parasites in swine from low-input farms; Baies M.H., et al. – BMC Veterinary Research 20 – 2024