Evaluation of niridazole as a suppressant of cellular immunity in chickens
Walser, M.M.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 39(11): 1858-1860
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 736345 Document Number: 132815
Niridazole was administered by gavage to 5-week-old chickens at dosage levels of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of body weight. The two larger dosage levels were toxic and resulted in the death of many of the recipients. The 50 mg/kg dosage was not lethal, but depressed weight gain. Cellular immune functions were measured by responses of lymphocytes in whole blood to T-cell mitogens and by delayed hypersensitivity reactions to tuberculin. Blastogenic responses to phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A were reduced in niridazole-treated chickens as much as 96.5% when compared with responses of controls. Wattle tests measuring delayed hypersensitivity were positive only in control chickens; reactions in niridazole-treated chickens did not differ from unimmunized controls.