Effect of enrofloxacin on red blood cell indices of ducklings

In this study we present the results of our research into the effect of Enrofloxacin (a fluoroquinolone drug) on red blood cell indices of ducklings, breed Bashkir duck. The ducklings of the experiment group received Enrofloxacin at a concentration of 200 g/L via drinking water for 10 consecutive days. Blood samples from all the ducklings were collected by cardiac puncture on Day 1, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Day 9 and Day 11 after the withdrawal of the drug. After evaluating red blood cell indices, including RBC count, hematocrit, color index of blood, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin content and erythrocyte indices we observed short-term reliable changes in blood of ducklings in the experiment group. We registered the most dynamic changes in RBC count of Group II on Day 1, Day 9 and Day 11, when it increased by 16%, 14% and 16% respectively whereas on Day 3 we registered a single decrease by 8% as compared to the control group. We marked ambiguous variations in color index of blood, MCV and MHC. Throughout the experiment we noted the most pronounced changes in practically every value only on Day 5, when we registered increases in RBC count, hemoglobin content, color index of blood, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and mean hemoglobin content of duckling blood. In spite of the fact that these singular changes may reflect certain intensification of erythropoiesis, on the whole they do not reflect any negative effect of Enrofloxacin on physiological status of ducklings.