Thirty six Basket buck rabbits, 6 months of age with an average initial body weight, 2835 ± 44.58 g were randomly allotted into three experimental groups (N= 12) based on body weight. The 1st group was used as control and injected with saline solution (1 ml of 0.09 % NaCL). The 2nd and 3rd groups were injected subcutaneous with 2.5 mg of each tetracycline and enrofloxacin per kg live body weight biweekly for 10 weeks, respectively. Semen samples were individually collected from the five bucks once weekly for a period of 10 weeks to evaluate semen quality. Blood samples from five Basket buck rabbits in each experimental group were collected biweekly throughout the experimental period, also blood parameters were studied. At the end of experiment, three bucks from each experimental groups were randomly chosen and slaughtered to study the histopathological examination. Specimens of liver, kidneys and testes were taken from each animal for the histopathological investigation.
The present results showed that the live body weight and the relative weight of liver, testes and epididymis was not affected significantly by injection with tetracycline or enrofloxacine. However, the relative weight of kidney of bucks which treated with tetracycline and enrofloxacine increased significantly (P < 0.05) as compared with the control group. The treatment of bucks with tetracycline or enrofloxacine decreased insignificantly the total number of RBCs and WBCs as compared with the control group. The total number of platelets were decreased (P < 0.05) in rabbits treated with tetracycline and increased (P< 0.05) in which treated with enrofloxacine. After treatment with tetracycline and enrofloxacine, the mean concentration of hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were similarly with control.
The total protein, globuline, bilirubin levels and createnin were decreased (P < 0.05) with rabbits treated with tetracycline or enrofloxacine compared to the control group. However, albumin, albumin / globuline (A/G) ratio and the plasma urea –N concentrations were similar in both treated with tetracycline or enrofloxacine and control groups.
Injection of bucks with tetracycline induced (P < 0.05) reduction of plasma AST activity and increased (P < 0.05) of plasma ALT activity. However, injection of rabbits with enrofloxacine decreased (P < 0.05) of plasma AST and ALT activity as compared with the control group.The testesterone hormone was increased significantly after injection rabbits with tetracycline or enrofloxacine groups as compared with the control group.
Gross and microscopic examination of kidney, liver and testicular of Bauscat buck rabbits showed that injection with tetracycline or enrofloxacin had no adverse effect on these organs, which appeared histopathologically similar to those of the control rabbits. All physical semen characteristics improved significantly (P<0.01) for treated rabbits with tetracycline or enrofloxacine compared to the control group. However, the ejaculate volume were not affected significantly by treated with both drugs.