The Study on Safety (Tolerance) of Unicoccidum on Rabbits

Preclinical study of new medicines allows us to determine their specific pharmacological activity, indications for use and contraindications. However, in addition to the efficacy, the choice of a drug depends on its safety profile. The research purpose was to study tolerance (safety) of the anticoccidial drug Unicoccidum on rabbits. The experiment was conducted on rabbits divided into 3 groups. Animals of the first group (n = 6) (control) were prescribed no drugs; rabbits of the second group (n = 8) were administered Unicoccidum once orally, individually, at a therapeutic dose (0.4 mL/kg); and rabbits of the third group (n = 7) were administered the drug at a five-fold therapeutic dose (2.0 mL/kg). Blood for the study was taken from the rabbits’ auricular veins at 7 days after Unicoccidum. The cellular composition of peripheral blood was determined using standard cell counting techniques. Hemoglobin, total protein, urea, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, glucose, creatinine, bilirubin, AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-GT were determined with Vital kits (Saint Petersburg) using a Hitachi-902 biochemical analyzer. It was found that Unicoccidum in the studied doses did not significantly affect the clinical status, behavior, or appetite of the rabbits. Morphological and biochemical blood parameters in the experimental animals did not differ from the control and were within the physiological range for this animal species. Thus, Unicoccidum has good tolerance and is safe for animals.