Abstract
Pasteurellosis is one of the rabbit's most bacterial severe diseases and leads to considerable financial damages in large production systems worldwide. Antibiotic use in animals may lead to antibiotic residues in animal products, including meat. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the potential role of grape seed extract (GSE) in treating
Pasteurella multocida
infection in rabbits. For this purpose, 45 weaned male New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups; control, infected and infected‐GSE treated. Experimental
P. multocida
infection in rabbits induced a remarkable decrease in body weight, body weight gain, as well as microcytic hypochromic anaemia, leucocytosis, neutrophilia and lymphocytopenia. Also, a significant increase in the hepatic and renal injury biomarkers, in interleukin‐6, total globulin, α, β and γ globulins, as well as a marked reduction in total protein and albumin, were recorded in the
P. multocida
‐infected rabbits. Treatment of infected rabbits with GSE modulated most of these altered parameters. This study endorses the administration of GSE for the treatment of Pasteurellosis in rabbits. Further studies are required to identify the possible additional effects, appropriate doses and duration of the GSE therapy in rabbits Pasteurellosis.
According to the authors' knowledge, no comprehensive work was dedicated to assess the possible impact of grape seed extract in treating of
P. multocida
infection in rabbits. Moreover, grape seed extract could represent a promising for enhancement of Pasteurellosis treatment in rabbits and reduction of ofloxacin side effects.