IMPACT OF BEE VENOM AND OXYTETRACYCLINE ON BLOOD PARAMETERS, ANTIOXIDANT, IMMUNITY STATUS AND BACTERIAL COUNT OF WEANING RABBITS

Abstract

: The present study aimed to compare the effects of bee venom (BV) and Oxytetracycline (OXY) supplementation on blood biochemical analysis, antioxidant, immunity status and bacterial count of weaning rabbits. Sixty Californian male rabbits at 35 days of age with average body weight of 589±90 g were randomly divided into five equal groups (12 for each) ; 1 st group (control) was given water (placebo), 2 nd group (OXY; 1g/l water), 3 rd , 4 th , and 5 th groups were received BV at (2, 4 and 8 mg/kg body weigh/day, respectively). Results indicated that weaning rabbits treated with OXY and BV had significant increases of total plasma protein (TP) and globulin (Glo) while decreasing AST and ALT, except for OXY group rise of ALT compared to control group. Rabbits treated with OXY or BV had a significantly declined tri-glycerids (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-c), while all treatment records were insignificant for high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c) compared to control group. Groups treated with BV showed increase of IgG, total antioxidant capacity superoxide dismutase catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). Group treated with had a decreased total bacterial E. coli, Proteus and biochemical, immunological and antioxidative responses and decrease pathogenic bacteria in hindgut of