Effect of pefloxacin on certain natural host defence mechanisms and immuneresponse in rabbits

Pefloxacin was given @ 6mg/kg twice daily for 5 days with or without Brucel la-plain killed antigen to study the natural non-specific host defence mech anisms and specific immune response. Among the different parameters assesse d, the agglutinating antibody titres and the absolute lymphocyte count were reduced slightly by pefloxacin, but it was not significant. The total immu noglobulin concentration, total serum protein and total leukocyte count wer e not affected. The cell-mediated immunity was also not affected by pefloxa cin. Hence, the natural host defence mechanisms and cell-mediated immunity were not affected by pefloxacin, but the humoral response was reduced sligh tly, though not significantly.