Subchronic dermal toxicity studies of Alcide Allay gel and liquid in rabbits

Alcide is a germicidal agent which is highly effective in killing a wide range of bacteria and fungi. 2.0 g kg-1 Allay gel or placebo were applied once per day while 3.0 g kg-1 Allay liquid or placebo were administered three times per day over a 30 day period to the skin of albino rabbits. Allay gel and liquid contained either of two concentrations of sodium chlorite and lactic acid as active ingredients. The concentration of active ingredients, sodium chlorite and lactic acid, in the low dose gel was 25% of high dose gel and low dose liquid was 60% of high dose liquid. Moderate to severe erythema was observed only in the high dose gel group after 7 days of treatment, but skin appeared visibly normal by day 18. Histologically fixed skin at day 30, however, showed inflammatory changes in the high and low dose gel groups and hyperkeratosis in all gel groups. At the termination of the study, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration decreased significantly in the Allay gel and liquid groups compared to an untreated control group. In all gel treatments, BUN/creatinine levels decreased significantly. Hematology and clinical chemistry parameters, however, were within the normal range of values for the gel and liquid groups, indicating no clinically significant changes due to Allay treatment. Pancreas/body weight ratios were significantly reduced in all gel groups, while spleen, pancreas and ovary/body weight ratios were significantly higher in both liquid dosage groups. No histological changes were observed in any of these organs.