Comparative disposition kinetics of albendazole in sheep following oral and intraruminal administration

Improvement of Albendazole Bioavailability with Menbutone Administration in Sheep

The pharmacokinetic interaction between a benzimidazole (albendazole, ABZ) and a choleretic drug (menbutone, MEN) was evaluated in sheep. The plasma disposition of albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO, active metabolite) and albendazole sulfone (ABZSO2, inactive metabolite) was investigated following an oral administration of albendazole (ABZ) (5 mg/kg) alone or with menbutone (MEN) (intramuscular, 10 mg/kg). Blood samples were collected over 3 days post-treatment, and drug plasma concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). ABZSO was measured from 0.5 to 48 h, and ABZSO2 from 2 to 60 h. No parent drug was detected at any sampling time. Mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) were 12.8% and 21.5% higher for ABZSO when ABZ and MEN were administered together, which indicates a significant increase in the amount absorbed. The rate of absorption was not modified, with similar values for the time to reach Cmax (tmax) (11.5 h with ABZ + MEN and 10.7 h with ABZ treatment), although no significant differences were observed for these latter pharmacokinetic parameters. Regarding ABZSO2, Cmax, AUC and tmax values were similar after both treatments (ABZ or ABZ + MEN). The results obtained indicate that co-administration of ABZ and MEN may be an interesting and practical option to increase the efficacy of this anthelmintic.

Diet-induced modulation of pharmacokinetics of albendazole in Sahiwal cattle

The influence of diet type and pre-treatment fasting on the kinetic disposition of albendazole was evaluated in Sahiwal heifers following oral and intra-ruminal administration of the drug. The anthelmintically active moiety albendazole sulphoxide appeared early and was eliminated early in cattle offered green fodder, with decreased maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under concentration–time curve (AUC) when the drug was administered both through oral and intra-ruminal routes. Further, the elimination half-life (t½β) revealed significantly increased values for albendazole sulphoxide in cattle administered albendazole through the intra-ruminal route. An increased AUC and t½β is reflective of increased bioavailability of albendazole in animals offered dry fodder. Increased values (P <  0.05) of Cmax, time to Cmax (Tmax), AUC and t½β for albendazole sulphoxide occurred in cattle with a pre-treatment 24-h fast, resulting in its increased bioavailability. Extrapolation of data of the active metabolite albendazole sulphoxide levels in terms of drug–parasite contact revealed increased exposure of parasites to the drug in cattle administered albendazole through the intra-ruminal route and with 24-h pre-treatment fasting.

Kinetic disposition of albendazole in goats subclinically infected with gastrointestinal nematodes vis-à-vis naive animals following oral and intraruminal administration

The influence of subclinical nematodosis on the kinetic disposition of albendazole was evaluated in goats following oral and intraruminal administration. The disposition curves of its metabolites indicated increased uptake of the drug in parasitized goats following intraruminal compared to oral dosing (P < 0.05). The midpoint for the pharmacologically active metabolite, albendazole sulphoxide, in the circulatory compartment was around 0.6 mug ml- 1 both in parasitized and naïve goats. The period of exposure to this concentration was around 14 h (oral route), 18 h (intraruminal route) and 16 h (oral route), 17 h (intraruminal route) in parasitized and naïve goats, respectively. As the duration of exposure of parasites to the toxic concentration of the anthelmintically active metabolite was prolonged, it could be assumed that intraruminal delivery of the drug would improve the efficacy of albendazole in parasitized goats.

Quantitative determination of albendazole metabolites in sheep spermatozoa and seminal plasma by liquid chromatographic analysis with fluorescence detection

A new analytical method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of albendazole metabolites in sheep spermatozoa and seminal plasma at levels down to 46.5 ng/mL for albendazole sulphoxide (ABZ-SO), 7.5 ng/mL for albendazole sulphone (ABZ-SO2) and 12 ng/mL for albendazole 2-aminosulphone (ABZ-SO2NH2) has been developed. Analytes were extracted from alkalinized samples with ethyl acetate. Separation was carried out on a C18 column in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium (TBA) hydrogen sulphate and octanesulphonate sodium (OCT), as ion-pair agents. Fluorometric detection was performed with excitation and emission wavelengths set at 290 and 320 nm, respectively. Accuracy data showed overall recoveries (+/-S.E.M.) of 83.1+/-1.2% for ABZ-SO, 98.8+/-0.6% for ABZ-SO2 and 85.3+/-0.7% for ABZ-SO2NH2, in spermatozoa. Respective values in seminal plasma were 88.0+/-0.9%, 97.7+/-0.5% and 93.2+/-1.7%. Precision data suggested coefficient of variation (CV%) values lower than 5.9% for spermatozoa and 3.8% for seminal plasma. The method was successfully applied for the determination of the three albendazole metabolites in semen samples collected from rams that had been orally administered albendazole.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection for the simultaneous determination of albendazole sulphoxide, albendazole sulphone and albendazole 2-aminosulphone in sheep plasma

A rapid and sensitive HPLC method for the simultaneous quantification of albendazole sulphoxide (ABZ-SO), albendazole sulphone (ABZ-SO2) and albendazole 2-aminosulphone (ABZ-SO2NH2) in sheep blood plasma has been developed. Plasma samples were extracted with ethyl acetate under alkaline conditions. Separation was achieved on a C18 reversed-phase analytical column, in the presence of positively- (tetra-n-butylammonium hydrogen sulphate) and negatively-charged (octanesulphonate sodium) pairing ions, while detection was performed fluorometrically. Excitation and emission wavelengths were 290 and 320 nm, respectively. Limits of quantification were defined at 39 ng/ml for ABZ-SO, 4.95 ng/ml for ABZ-SO2 and 4 ng/ml for ABZ-SO2NH2. Accuracy data, in terms of recovery efficiency showed overall values (+/- S.E.M.) of 85.6 +/- 1.0% for ABZ-SO, 100.0 +/- 1.0% for ABZ-SO2 and 89.1 +/- 0.6% for ABZ-SO2NH2. The method was successfully applied to quantitatively determine the three albendazole metabolites in plasma samples collected from sheep that had been orally administered albendazole.