Determination of Embryotoxic Effects of Levofloxacin Exposure by the In Ovo Method

Levofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug in the fluoroquinolone class that is classified as category C during pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the effects of levofloxacin administration on embryos at different developmental stages. It examined 420 fertile chicken eggs, divided into two main groups—levofloxacin treatment on days 7 and 14—each containing seven subgroups (n = 30 each): negative control (no treatment), positive control (treated with saline), and five levofloxacin doses (5000, 2500, 1250, 625, and 312.5 μg/kg). On day 21, all eggs were hatched, the live–dead ratio was determined, and liver and kidney tissues were collected for histopathological analysis. Administering levofloxacin to embryos at 7 and 14 days of incubation had no lethal effect at doses up to 5000 μg/kg (p>0.05). Histopathological evaluations revealed no significant or clinically meaningful histopathological toxicity was observed of levofloxacin on liver and kidney development (p>0.05). In conclusion, when administered directly, levofloxacin does not have adverse effects on embryos at different developmental stages.