The current study was conducted to assess the effect of partial replacement of soyabean meal (SBM) (Glycine max) with defatted winged termite meal (WTM) (Macrotermes natalensis) inclusion levels on the performance, blood, and bone composition of Ross 308 broiler chickens in 42 days feeding trial. A total of 150 one-day-old, unsexed broiler chicks were allocated to 3 dietary treatments, replicated 5 times with 10 chickens per pen in a completely randomized design (CRD). Broilers were fed isonitrogenous, and iso-energetic experimental diets formulated to include WTM as follows: a control diet without WTM = WTM0; a basal broiler diet with 50g/kg of WTM = WTM5; a basal diet with 100g/kg of WTM = WTM10 to replace SBM. Average feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured at 1 to 14 days (starter), 15 to 28 days (grower) and 29 to 42 days (finisher). Hematology, serum biochemistry and right tibia bone traits of birds were determined on day 14, 28 and 42 in each growth phase. WTM inclusion had no effect (P > 0.05) on MR, BWG and FCR of broilers throughout the growth stages except FI that was higher (P< 0.05) in broilers fed WTM5 followed by WTM10 and WTM0 at starter phase. WTM inclusion had no (P> 0.05) influence on most hematology and serum parameters the growth period. However, elevated (P< 0.05) aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin observed in chickens fed WTM5 than other groups at finisher phase. Dietary WTM inclusion had no influence (P> 0.05) on the majority of bone traits throughout the growth phase except bone density (TBD) that was higher (P< 0.05) in birds fed WTM5 than other treatment groups at starter phase whereas better (P< 0.05) bone breaking strength (BBS) was observed in birds on WTM5 compared to WTM0 and WTM10. It was concluded that WTM up to 10% could be partially included in diets without compromising growth performance, blood, and bone traits of Ross 308 broiler chickens during starter, grower and finisher phase.

Assessment of antiparasitic efficacy of Artemisia herba-alba and Artemisia judaica using in vitro, in silico, and animal-based models against Ascaridia galli was conducted. Ethanolic extracts from each Artemisia species were separately prepared in 0.5% DMSO. For the in vitro analysis, a total of 180 adult Ascaridia galli worms were harvested from naturally infected chicks and randomly assigned into four equal groups. Group 1 received Fenbendazole (0.5 mg/mL), Group 2 was treated with A. herba-alba extract (50 mg/mL), Group 3 with A. Judaica extract (50 mg/mL), and Group 4 served as the control, exposed to 0.5% DMSO. All treatments were applied for a duration of 13 hours. For the in vivo investigation, 540 A. galli-infected chicks were divided into six equally sized groups. Groups 1 and 2 received A. herba-alba at 1000 and 3000 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Similarly, Groups 3 and 4 were treated with A. Judaica at 1000 and 3000 mg/kg. Group 5 was administered Fenbendazole (50 mg/kg) as a positive control, while Group 6 served as the untreated control. Both A. herba-alba and A. Judaica significantly inhibited worm motility in vitro compared to the control group. Fenbendazole achieved 100% inhibition (P < 0.001), while A. herba-alba showed 30.1% inhibition (P < 0.05), and A. Judaica demonstrated 23.1% inhibition (P < 0.05). At 14 days post-treatment, Artemisia-treated groups showed a significant decrease in female fecundity, fecal egg count (FEC), and worm burden relative to the control group. Notably, there was no significant variation (P > 0.05) based on the Artemisia species or dose level used. In vitro exposure of nematodes to A. judaica and A. herba-alba extracts resulted in a significant, time-dependent reduction in worm motility compared with control treatments, whereas fenbendazole induced rapid and complete immobilization; no significant differences were observed between the two herbal extracts. Molecular docking analysis indicates that camphor demonstrated robust affinity score of -6.25 kcal/mol against ATP synthase, while camphor against glutathione transferase showed promising interactions with an affinity score of -6.90 kcal/mol. In conclusion, extracts of A. herba-alba and A. Judaica demonstrate significant potential as effective and suitable alternatives for managing A. galli infections in poultry by targeting ATP synthase and glutathione transferase in A. galli.