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Antimicrobial, immunological and biochemical effects of florfenicol and garlic (Allium sativum) on rabbits infected with Escherichia coli serotype O55: H7

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Abstract

Florfenicol (FFC) is a synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic and garlic has a bactericidal action against coliforms. This study was carried out to compare the antimicrobial, immunological and biochemical effects of florfenicol and garlic, for their ability to treat enteropathogenic Escherichia coli serotype O55: H7 infection in rabbits. Four groups (G1-G4) were included. G1 group was the negative control; G2 group was the infected with a field-isolated strain of E. coli and untreated; G3 group was the infected+treated with FFC for 5 days; and G4 group was the infected+treated with garlic tablets for 14 days. The rabbits were observed for clinical signs, growth performance and mortality rates. Garlic-infused disks had a larger clear zone of inhibition than other antibiotic disks. Garlic treatment improved growth performance, biochemical parameters, and immunological response and reduced the fecal shedding and histopathological lesions in E. coli O55: H7 infected rabbits compared to the other groups. Colonization of E. coli more rapidly declined in G3 & G4 than in G2. Hepatic and intestinal gene expressions; tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly elevated in G2 compared to the other groups, and their levels were elevated more in G3 than in G4. Serum interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and phagocytic activity were significantly elevated in G4 compared to G3. G3 revealed macrocytic hypochromic anaemia that was confirmed histopathologically by moderate haematopoiesis of the bone marrow. In conclusion, garlic powder can reduce rabbit colibacillosis, like FFC, and can enhance the immune status of rabbits.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Abbreviations

EPEC:

enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

E. coli :

Escherichia coli

FFC:

florfenicol

AST:

aspartate aminotransferase

ALT:

alanine aminotransferase

PCV:

packed cell volume

MCH:

mean corpuscular haemoglobin

MCV:

mean corpuscular volume

MCHC:

mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration

RBCs:

red blood cells

Hb:

haemoglobin

TLC:

total leukocyte count

H/L ratio:

heterophil to lymphocyte ratio

DPI:

days post-infection

BW:

body weight

BWG:

body weight gain

FCR:

feed conversion ratio

NBT:

nitroblue tetrazolium

TNF-α:

tumour necrosis factor-α

IL-6:

interleukin-6

IFN-γ:

interferon-gamma

GAPDH:

gene glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

EMB:

eosin methylene blue

H&E:

hematoxylin and eosin stain

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank the departments of Clinical pathology, Poultry diseases, Pharmacology and Bacteriology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt and the department of Pathology, Animal Health Research Institute, Mansoura branch, Egypt for their support, facilities and help. Egyptian knowledge bank (EKB) is acknowledged for the proof editing of the manuscript from the nature research editing service.

Funding

This study received no funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Verginia M. Farag

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, PO Box: 35516, Mansoura, Egypt

    Reham A. El-Shafei

  3. Department of Bacteriology, Mycology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Rasha M. Elkenany

  4. Department of Pathology, Animal Health Research Institute, Mansoura branch, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt

    Hanaa S. Ali

  5. Department of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Abdelfattah H. Eladl

Authors
  1. Verginia M. Farag
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  2. Reham A. El-Shafei
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  3. Rasha M. Elkenany
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  4. Hanaa S. Ali
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  5. Abdelfattah H. Eladl
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Contributions

Verginia Farag: Methodology, investigation, data analysis, writing of original draft & editing. Reham El-Shafei, Rasha Elkenany: Methodology, Investigation. Hanaa Ali: Histopathology. Abdelfattah Eladl: Methodology, investigation, data analysis, writing of original draft & editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reham A. El-Shafei.

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Ethics approval

The experiment was conducted at the Educational Veterinary Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt. All the procedures of biosecurity and biosafety as well as handling, management, and euthanasia of rabbits during and after the experiment were approved by the Research Ethical Committee of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University with the code number of (R/81). Moreover, handling, restrain and euthanasia of rabbits were following the "Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals".

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All authors contributed to the experimental study and design. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Farag, V.M., El-Shafei, R.A., Elkenany, R.M. et al. Antimicrobial, immunological and biochemical effects of florfenicol and garlic (Allium sativum) on rabbits infected with Escherichia coli serotype O55: H7. Vet Res Commun 46, 363–376 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-021-09859-3

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