Coccidiosis is an intestinal infection caused by an intracellular parasitic protozoan of the genus Eimeria. The gastrointestinal inflammation caused by Eimeria sp. can result in significant economic losses. It is vital to adopt strategies that decrease its prevalence as the damage it can cause is enormous.

Due to the increasing concerns about Eimeria resistance to various chemical compounds and the scarcity of novel antimicrobials, the development of novel and innovative solutions is urgently required. Using phytogenic extracts has emerged as a promising approach to prevent coccidiosis. The impact of phytogenic feed additives on poultry coccidiosis is based on the reduction of oocyst output by preventing the proliferation and growth of Eimeria species in chicken gastrointestinal tissues and lowering intestinal permeability via increased epithelial turnover. 

Each of the seven Eimeria species inhabits different sites of the gastrointestinal tract and causes poultry diseases ranging from subclinical enteritis to subacute mortality. The severity of coccidiosis depends on Eimeria species, strain, infectious dose, host genetic makeup, flock density, environmental and stress conditions, and concomitant infections.

Artemisinin, the primary bioactive component of Artemisia annua, along with its leaves, promote host cell death and inhibit the inflammatory reaction. A. annua leaves alleviate clinical manifestation by apoptosis induction and inflammatory reaction decrease.