Some Immunomodulating Effects of Diclazuril in New Zealand Rabbits

This study was conducted to investigate the immunomodulating effects of the diclazuril anticoccidial drug (1 mg/kg BW) given orally for 5 successive days to rabbits vaccinated with rabbit haemorrhagic viral disease (RHVD). Two blood samples were collected at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st days post drug and vaccine administration to study the effect of diclazuril on the innate immune response (phagocytic activity, serum lysozyme activity and nitric oxide production) and the humoral immune response (serum total proteins, determination of serum globulins and gamma globulins fractions using electrophoretic technique). The results revealed that diclazuril had adverse effect on both the innate and humoral immune response as evidenced by a significant decrease in phagocytic activity, lysozyme activity, nitric oxide production, serum total proteins, globulins and gamma globulins in rabbits. Therefore, diclazuril is not recommended as a chemotherapeutic agent for rabbits in the dose of 1 mg/kg BW.