Determination of Embryotoxic Effects of Levofloxacin Exposure by the In Ovo Method

Levofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug in the fluoroquinolone classthat is classified as category C during pregnancy. This study aimed to determine theeffects of levofloxacin administration on embryos at different developmental stages.It examined 420 fertile chicken eggs, divided into two main groups—levofloxacintreatment on days 7 and 14—each containing seven subgroups (n = 30 each): negativecontrol (no treatment), positive control (treated with saline), and five levofloxacindoses (5000, 2500, 1250, 625, and 312.5 μg/kg). On day 21, all eggs were hatched,the live–dead ratio was determined, and liver and kidney tissues were collected forhistopathological analysis. Administering levofloxacin to embryos at 7 and 14 days ofincubation had no lethal effect at doses up to 5000 μg/kg (p>0.05). Histopathologicalevaluations revealed no significant or clinically meaningful histopathologicaltoxicity was observed of levofloxacin on liver and kidney development (p>0.05). Inconclusion, when administered directly, levofloxacin does not have adverse effectson embryos at different developmental stages.