Pharmacokinetics of thiamphenicol in veal calves

Capillary electrophoretic determination of thiamphenicol in turkeys serum and its pharmacokinetic application

The pharmacokinetics of thiamphenicol were investigated in 12 healthy turkeys of both sexes, following intravenous (i.v.) and intragastric (p.o.) administration of a single dose of 30 mg/kg body weight (bw). Serum drug concentrations were determined by capillary electrophoresis technique on blood samples collected over 24 h following treatment. The method was statistically validated for its linearity, accuracy, precision and selectivity. The linear range was from 0.2 to 500 microg/ml with correlation coefficients greater than 0.999. The limit of detection of drug was 70 ng/ml, while the quantitative limit was 200 ng/ml, using 0.5 ml sample size. Pharmacokinetic variables of the drug were calculated after both administration routes.

A comparative kinetic study of thiamphenicol in pre-ruminant lambs and calves

Eight healthy Holstein-Friesian calves and 8 Massese lambs of either sex (10-15-days old) were used to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of thiamphenicol after intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.o.) administration (30 mg/kg). Plasma concentrations of thiamphenicol were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography on blood samples collected over 24h following treatment. Pharmacokinetic variables of the drug were calculated for both species and after both administration routes. After intravenous administration of thiamphenicol, a rapid distribution phase was followed by a slower elimination phase and, when thiamphenicol was administered p.o., the bioavailability was about 60% in both species. The higher volume of distribution and the longer biological elimination half-lives in pre-ruminant compared with adult animals indicate that thiamphenicol distributes widely into the extravascular compartment of pre-ruminants. Interspecies differences were observed in the kinetic behaviour of thiamphenicol with respect to peak plasma concentration (C(max)), time of peak plasma concentration (T(max)), elimination half-life (T(1/2)) and total clearance (Cl(B)). In conclusion intravenous or oral administration of 30 mg/kg of thiamphenicol provides plasma concentrations higher than minimum effective concentrations inhibiting bacterial growth (MICs) against most pathogens in pre-ruminant lambs and calves.

Residue depletion of thiamphenicol in the sea-bass

The residue depletion of thiamphenicol (TAP) was investigated in the sea-bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) after 5 days' treatment with medicated food at a dose of 15 or 30 mg/kg bw/day. Fish were sampled for blood and muscle + skin from 3 h until 14 days after treatment. Thiamphenicol concentrations were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography. Thiamphenicol concentrations measured 3 h after stopping treatment were 0.77 microg/mL and 0.91 (15 mg/kg dose) or 1.32 microg/mL and 1.47 microg/g (30 mg/kg dose), in plasma and muscle + skin, respectively. After a withdrawal of 3 days, plasma and tissue concentrations were: 0.08 microg/mL and 0.03 microg/g (lower dose) or 0.12 microg/mL and 0.06 microg/g (higher dose), respectively. Thiamphenicol was not detectable either in plasma or in tissues on days 7, 10 and 14 following withdrawal of the medicated food. Based on maximum residue levels (MRL) for TAP in fin fish, established at 50 microg/kg for muscle and skin in natural proportions, a withdrawal period of 5 and 6 days is proposed, after treatment at 15 or 30 mg/kg of TAP with medicated feed pellets, respectively, to avoid the presence of violative residues in the edible tissues of the sea-bass.

Allometric analysis of thiamphenicol disposition among seven mammalian species

The pharmacokinetics of thiamphenicol (TAP), a broad-spectrum antibiotic, was determined in male mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, pigs, sheep and calves. The relationship between the main pharmacokinetic parameters of TAP and body weight (W) was studied across these seven mammalian species, using double-logarithmic plots. The experimental values of volume of distribution (Vss), clearance (Cl) and elimination half-life (t(1/2)beta) were plotted, and extrapolated values were determined from corresponding allometric equations. These parameters were fitted to the following equations: Vss=0.98W0.92, Cl=15.80W0.76 and t(1/2)beta=0.94W0.20, and present good correlation (Vss: r2=0.997, P < 0.001; Cl: r2=0.976, P < 0.001, t(1/2)beta: r2=0.852, P < 0.005), that is expected of a drug eliminated primarily by renal glomerular filtration, with insignificant hepatic metabolism. For the t(1/2)beta, the extrapolated and observed values were similar. The extrapolated values of Cl were close to the experimental values, except for the mouse and pig mean percent error [(M.E.) equal to 62 and 119%, respectively], while the extrapolated and observed values for the Vss were very similar. The comparison between experimental and extrapolated values suggests that it could be possible to extrapolate, with good prediction, the kinetic parameters of this drug for mammalian species, using allometric scaling, except for the species that eliminate the drug by a combination of renal excretion and hepatic metabolism.

Thiamphenicol disposition in pigs

Pharmacokinetic parameters of thiamphenicol (TAP) were determined after intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) administration of 30 mg kg-1 of TAP in pigs. Plasma drug concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) Intravenous TAP kinetics were fitted to a bi-exponential equation, with a first rapid disposition phase followed by a slower disposition phase. Elimination half-life was short, at 59.3 (29.4) minutes; volume of distribution at steady state was 0.62 (0.24) 1 kg-1; and plasma clearance was 13.4 (4.5) ml min-1 kg-1. After i.m. administration, the peak plasma concentration (Cmax= 4.1 microg ml-1) was reached in about 60 minutes; these concentrations are lower than those reported in other species. The TAP elimination half-life after i.m. administration, 250.2 (107.1) minutes was longer after than i.v. administration, probably due to the slow rate of absorption from the muscle. The mean bioavailability value for i.m. administration was 76 (12) per cent.