Acute Oral Toxicity, Haematobiochemical Parameters and Histopathological Evaluation of Povidone Iodine in Mice

Abstract

Povidone-iodine is a synthetically produced topical antiseptic with a broad antimicrobial spectrum indicated for both treatment and prevention. Polidine® (a synthetic povidone-iodine solution) however, is being used by poultry farmers and some animal health practitioners with claims that it is effective against infectious bursal disease (IBD) when administered orally. And recently, research studies have shown that povidone-iodine mouthwashes, throat sprays, nasal sprays and eye drops prevent the replication and or viral loads of SARSCoV-2. Thus, this study established a safety profile of povidone-iodine. Ten adult mice were randomly assigned into 2 groups, each containing 5 mice. One of the two groups was treated with povidone-iodine orally, at a limit dose of 2,000mg/kg BW while the other group served as normal control. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analysis. Also, liver and kidney were harvested for both gross and histopathological examinations. Result showed the median lethal dose (LD50) of povidone-iodine was found to be >2,000mg/kg BW. Significant increase (p < 0.05) of total white blood cells, monocytopaenia and increased band cells were observed in the treated group when compared to the control on haematology. However, serum biochemistry revealed significant increase (p < 0.01) of Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and Blood urea nitrogen. On histopathology, no remarkable changes in the group treated with povidone iodine were observed when compared to the control. In conclusion, this study has showed the relative safety of povidone iodine at limit dose (2,000 mg/kg BW) in mice