DETERMINING LD(50)( )AND TERATOGENIC EFFECTS OF MARBOFLOXACIN IN IN OVO MODEL

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are frequently used in human and veterinary medicine due to their spectrum and action. Marbofloxacin, last member of the flouroquinolone antibiotics, is used in many animal species. The aim of this research was to determine the lethal dose (LD)(50) and embryotoxic effects of marbofloxacin by administering to fertile chicken eggs. In the study, 210 fertile chicken eggs were used. Eggs were allowed to wait in an incubator for 7 days under optimal conditions. On the seventh day, 210 fertile chicken eggs were randomly divided into 7 equal groups. The first two groups were accepted as the control group. In the remaining 5 groups, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, and 6.25 mg/kg doses of marbofloxacin were injected, respectively, and the incubation period of 21 days was completed. At the end of the incubation period, eggs were opened, and the number of dead and live embryo and macroscopic findings were observed. In the study, both teratogenicity and embryotoxicity were detected depending on the dose. LD50 value was calculated as 43.3 and 43.8 mg/kg according to the probit and Karben-Behrens method, respectively. Normalized mortality rates acoording to Abbott formula at 100, 50 and 25 mg/kg doses were calculated as 100%, 74.7%, and 14.84%, respectively. At 12.5 and 6.25 doses, similar results with the control group were obtained. Consequently, it can be expressed that marbofloxacin may show teratogenic and/or embryotoxic effects in mammals concerning the dose and should be used carefully during pregnancy.