Levamisole, a widely used anthelmintic, has received attention as a potential immunomodulator. In laboratory experiments reported elsewhere, lymphocytes isolated from blood samples obtained from the levamisole treated cows showed markedly increasedlymphocyte transformation as compared to those from untreated control cows (Ovadia et al., 1978). Granulocytes from the blood of the treated cows showed enhanced phagocytosis. Similarly levamisole injected into mice caused an increase within 24 hours inthe granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating activity in serum and also an increase in granulocyte/macrophage precursors in the spleen five days after injection. (Harel, 1981). The application of these immunomodulating agents for prevention has recentlybeen reported, but results from these studies have been conflicting (Flesh et al., 1982; Hamza and Choudhari 1994; Buddle and Pulford, 1985 and Alex et al., 1985). Keeping in view the marked immunopotentiating effect of levamisole for restoring normal functioning of depressed udder defense during the periparturient period, this study was undertaken to assess the use of levamisole in the prevention of bovine mastitis.
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