PROPHYLACTIC EFFICACY OF SOME ANTIBIOTIC COMBINATIONS AGAINST BRUCELLA MELITENSIS 16M IN BALB/C MICE

摘要

Brucellosis is an endemic zoonosis in Syria, affecting both humans and animals. Data regarding suitable antibiotic combinations in post-exposure prophylaxis against Brucella melitensis infections are rare. Prophylactic effects of some antibiotic combinations were assessed in BALB/c mice, to limit or control infection by B. melitensis 16M. Antibiotics were administrated prior to (for 7 days), after or at the same time as (for 5 days) the bacterial administration. When a concentration of 10 4 CFU of bacteria was injected, doxycycline-rifampicin combination reduced the bacterial counts in the spleens of infected mice in all mice groups either 48 h our 30 days after the cessation of antibiotic treatment; whereas, all other combinations had almost good efficacy only 30 days after the cessation of antibiotic treatment. On another hand, only doxycycline-rifampicin and rifampicin-levofloxacin com- binations had good efficacy 48 hours after the cessation of antibiotic treatment, when a concentration of 10 7 CFU of bacteria was injected. In conclusion, these results suggest that doxycycline-rifampicin combination, and may be doxycycline-ciprofloxacin and rifampicin-levofloxacin combinations, had good prophylactic efficacy against B. melitensis infections and may provide protection against these infections.