Abstract: This study investigated the effects of the continuous consumption of Sobo on colonization resistance to experimental infection in rats. Four matched groups of male and female adult Wister rats were orally administered H. sabdariffa calyx infusion at 37.6 and 100.0 mg mL-1 concentrations while the four control groups received distilled water once daily for 15 days. All rats were challenged on day 16 with 3.0-3.5X105 viable S. aureus 8588 CFU in 0.5 mL phosphate buffer and sacrificed on day 21. Faecal samples were collected six times (days 0-21) for dry mass index, coliform and S. aureus load. Blood was analysed for S. aureus antibody and lymphocyte count. Data were subject to statistical analyses. Faecal coliform counts were significantly depressed in Sobo administered groups with increased S. aureus shedding. Lymphocyte counts were however not significantly different and S. aureus antibody was not detected in the serum of rats. Sobo seems to possess pre-biotic properties and its continuous consumption may contribute to the elevation of colonization resistance to infection in the gastrointestinal tract.