Use of probabilistic modeling within a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to predict sulfamethazine residue withdrawal times in edible tissues in swine

Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model for evaluating gender-specific exposures of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is classified as a human carcinogen and could be produced by both natural and industrial processes. Although its toxicity and histopathology have been well-studied in animal species, there is insufficient data on the blood and tissue exposures that can be correlated with the toxicity of NDMA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate gender-specific pharmacokinetics/toxicokinetics (PKs/TKs), tissue distribution, and excretion after the oral administration of three different doses of NDMA in rats using a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model. The major target tissues for developing the PBPK model and evaluating dose metrics of NDMA included blood, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, liver, kidney, lung, heart, and brain. The predictive performance of the model was validated using sensitivity analysis, (average) fold error, and visual inspection of observations versus predictions. Then, a Monte Carlo simulation was performed to describe the magnitudes of inter-individual variability and uncertainty of the single model predictions. The developed PBPK model was applied for the exposure simulation of daily oral NDMA to estimate blood concentration ranges affecting health effects following acute-duration (≤ 14 days), intermediate-duration (15-364 days), and chronic-duration (≥ 365 days) intakes. The results of the study could be used as a scientific basis for interpreting the correlation between in vivo exposures and toxicological effects of NDMA.

Pharmacometrics: The Already-Present Future of Precision Pharmacology

The use of mathematical modeling to represent, analyze, make predictions or providing information on data obtained in drug research and development has made pharmacometrics an area of great prominence and importance. The main purpose of pharmacometrics is to provide information relevant to the search for efficacy and safety improvements in pharmacotherapy. Regulatory agencies have adopted pharmacometrics analysis to justify their regulatory decisions, making those decisions more efficient. Demand for specialists trained in the field is therefore growing. In this review, we describe the meaning, history, and development of pharmacometrics, analyzing the challenges faced in the training of professionals. Examples of applications in current use, perspectives for the future, and the importance of pharmacometrics for the development and growth of precision pharmacology are also presented.

Rational Pharmacotherapy in Infectious Diseases: Issues Related to Drug Residues in Edible Animal Tissues

Drugs are used in veterinary medicine to prevent or treat animal diseases. When rationally administered to livestock following Good Veterinary Practices (GVP), they greatly contribute to improving the production of food of animal origin. Since humans can be exposed chronically to veterinary drugs through the diet, residues in food are evaluated for effects following chronic exposures. Parameters such as an acceptable daily intake (ADI), the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL), maximum residue limits (MRLs), and the withdrawal periods (WPs) are determined for each drug used in livestock. Drug residues in food exceeding the MRLs usually appear when failing the GVP application. Different factors related either to the treated animal or to the type of drug administration, and even the type of cooking can affect the level of residues in edible tissues. Residues above the MRLs can have a diverse negative impact, mainly on the consumer's health, and favor antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Drug residue monitoring programmes are crucial to ensure that prohibited or authorized substances do not exceed MRLs. This comprehensive review article addresses different aspects of drug residues in edible tissues produced as food for human consumption and provides relevant information contributing to rational pharmacotherapy in food-producing animals.

Bayesian population physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model for robustness evaluation of withdrawal time in tilapia aquaculture administrated to florfenicol

The antimicrobial residues of aquacultural production is a growing public concern, leading to reexamine the method for establishing robust withdrawal time and ensuring food safety. Our study aims to develop the optimizing population physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for assessing florfenicol residues in the tilapia tissues, and for evaluating the robustness of the withdrawal time (WT). Fitting with published pharmacokinetic profiles that experimented under temperatures of 22 and 28 °C, a PBPK model was constructed by applying with the Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carol (MCMC) algorithm to estimate WTs under different physiological, environmental and dosing scenarios. Results show that the MCMC algorithm improves the estimates of uncertainty and variability of PBPK-related parameters, and optimizes the simulation of the PBPK model. It is noteworthy that posterior sets generated from temperature-associated datasets to be respectively used for simulating residues under corresponding temperature conditions. Simulating the residues under regulated regimen and overdosing scenarios for Taiwan, the estimated WTs were 12-16 days at 22 °C and 9-12 days at 28 °C, while for the USA, the estimated WTs were 14-18 and 11-14 days, respectively. Comparison with the regulated WT of 15 days, results indicate that the current WT has well robustness and resilience in the environment of higher temperatures. The optimal Bayesian population PBPK model provides effective analysis for determining WTs under scenario-specific conditions. It is a new insight into the increasing body of literature on developing the Bayesian-PBPK model and has practical implications for improving the regulation of food safety.

Physiological parameter values for physiologically based pharmacokinetic models in food-producing animals. Part I: Cattle and swine

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for chemicals in food animals are a useful tool in estimating chemical tissue residues and withdrawal intervals. Physiological parameters such as organ weights and blood flows are an important component of a PBPK model. The objective of this study was to compile PBPK‐related physiological parameter data in food animals, including cattle and swine. Comprehensive literature searches were performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest. Relevant literature was reviewed and tables of relevant parameters such as relative organ weights (% of body weight) and relative blood flows (% of cardiac output) were compiled for different production classes of cattle and swine. The mean and standard deviation of each parameter were calculated to characterize their variability and uncertainty and to allow investigators to conduct population PBPK analysis via Monte Carlo simulations. Regression equations using weight or age were created for parameters having sufficient data. These compiled data provide a comprehensive physiological parameter database for developing PBPK models of chemicals in cattle and swine to support animal‐derived food safety assessment. This work also provides a basis to compile data in other food animal species, including goats, sheep, chickens, and turkeys.

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model of doxycycline for predicting tissue residues and withdrawal intervals in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

The extensive use of doxycycline in aquaculture results in drug residue violations that negatively impact human food safety. This study aimed to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for doxycycline to predict drug residues and withdrawal times (WTs) in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) after daily oral administration for 3 days. Physiological parameters including cardiac output and organ weights were measured experimentally. Chemical-specific parameters were obtained from the literature or estimated by fitting to the observed data. The model properly captured the observed kinetic profiles of doxycycline in tissues (i.e., liver, kidney, muscle + skin and gill). The predicted WT in muscle + skin by Monte Carlo analysis based on sensitive parameters identified at 24 h after drug administration was 41 d, which was similar to 43 d calculated using the tolerance limit method. Sensitivity analysis identified two additional sensitive parameters at 6 weeks: intestinal transit rate constant and urinary elimination rate constant. The predicted WT in muscle + skin based on sensitive parameters identified at 6 weeks was 54 d. This model provides a useful tool to estimate tissue residues and withdrawal times for doxycycline in grass carp and also serves a foundation for extrapolation to other fish species and other tetracyclines.

Integration of Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) empirical methods for drug withdrawal interval determination with a mechanistic population-based interactive physiologically based pharmacokinetic (iPBPK) modeling platform: example for flunixin meglumine administration

Violative chemical residues in animal-derived food products affect food safety globally and have impact on the trade of international agricultural products. The Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank program has been developing scientific tools to provide appropriate withdrawal interval (WDI) estimations after extralabel drug use in food animals for the past three decades. One of the tools is physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, which is a mechanistic-based approach that can be used to predict tissue residues and WDIs. However, PBPK models are complicated and difficult to use by non-modelers. Therefore, a user-friendly PBPK modeling framework is needed to move this field forward. Flunixin was one of the top five violative drug residues identified in the United States from 2010 to 2016. The objective of this study was to establish a web-based user-friendly framework for the development of new PBPK models for drugs administered to food animals. Specifically, a new PBPK model for both cattle and swine after administration of flunixin meglumine was developed. Population analysis using Monte Carlo simulations was incorporated into the model to predict WDIs following extralabel administration of flunixin meglumine. The population PBPK model was converted to a web-based interactive PBPK (iPBPK) framework to facilitate its application. This iPBPK framework serves as a proof-of-concept for further improvements in the future and it can be applied to develop new models for other drugs in other food animal species, thereby facilitating the application of PBPK modeling in WDI estimation and food safety assessment.

An integrated experimental and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling study of penicillin G in heavy sows

Penicillin G is widely used in food-producing animals at extralabel doses and is one of the most frequently identified violative drug residues in animal-derived food products. In this study, the plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue residue depletion of penicillin G in heavy sows after repeated intramuscular administrations at label (6.5 mg/kg) and 5 × label (32.5 mg/kg) doses were determined. Plasma, urine, and environmental samples were tested as potential antemortem markers for penicillin G residues. The collected new data and other available data from the literature were used to develop a population physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for penicillin G in heavy sows. The results showed that antemortem testing of urine provided potential correlation with tissue residue levels. Based on the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service action limit of 25 ng/g, the model estimated a withdrawal interval of 38 days for penicillin G in heavy sows after 3 repeated intramuscular injections at 5 × label dose. This study improves our understanding of penicillin G pharmacokinetics and tissue residue depletion in heavy sows and provides a tool to predict proper withdrawal intervals after extralabel use of penicillin G in heavy sows, thereby helping safety assessment of sow-derived meat products.

Assessing Global Human Exposure to T-2 Toxin via Poultry Meat Consumption Using a Lifetime Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model

Residue depletion of T-2 toxin in chickens after oral gavage at 2.0 mg/kg twice daily for 2 days was determined in this study. A flow-limited physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed for lifetime exposure assessment in chickens. The model was calibrated with data from the residue depletion study and then validated with independent data. A local sensitivity analysis was performed, and 16 sensitive parameters were subjected to Monte Carlo analysis. The population PBPK model was applied to estimate daily intake values of T-2 toxin in different countries based on reported consumption factors and the guidance value of 0.25 mg/kg in feed for chickens by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The predicted daily intakes in different countries were all lower than the EFSA's total daily intake, suggesting that the EFSA's guidance value has minimal risk. This model provides a foundation for scaling to other mycotoxins and other food animal species.

The pig as a preclinical model for predicting oral bioavailability and in vivo performance of pharmaceutical oral dosage forms: a PEARRL review

OBJECTIVES

In pharmaceutical drug development, preclinical tests in animal models are essential to demonstrate whether the new drug is orally bioavailable and to gain a first insight into in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters that can subsequently be used to predict human values. Despite significant advances in the development of bio-predictive in vitro models and increasing ethical expectations for reducing the number of animals used for research purposes, there is still a need for appropriately selected pre-clinical in vivo testing to provide guidance on the decision to progress to testing in humans. The selection of the appropriate animal models is essential both to maximise the learning that can be obtained from such experiments and to avoid unnecessary testing in a range of species.

KEY FINDINGS

The present review, provides an insight into the suitability of the pig model for predicting oral bioavailability in humans, by comparing the conditions in the GIT. It also contains a comparison between the bioavailability of compounds dosed to both humans and pigs, to provide an insight into the relative correlation and examples on why a lack of correlation may be observed.

SUMMARY

While there is a general trend towards predicting human bioavailability from pig data, there is considerable variability in the data set, most likely reflecting species specific differences in individual drug metabolism. Nonetheless, the correlation between pigs vs. humans was comparable to that reported for dogs vs. humans. The presented data demonstrate the suitability of the pig as a preclinical model to predict bioavailability in human.

Evaluating parameter availability for physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in zebrafish

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models are considered useful tools to describe the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of xenobiotics. For accurate predictions, PBPK models require species-specific and compound-specific parameters. Zebrafish are considered an appropriate vertebrate model for investigating the toxicity of a wide variety of compounds. However, no specific mechanistic model exists for the pharmacokinetics of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in zebrafish, despite growing concern about this class of ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current state of knowledge for the parameters that would be needed to construct such a model for zebrafish. We chose perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as a model PFAA with greater data availability. We have updated a previous PBPK model for rainbow trout to simulate PFOA fate in zebrafish following waterborne exposure. For the first time, the model considers hepatobiliary circulation. In order to evaluate the availability of parameters to implement this model, we performed an extensive literature review to find zebrafish-specific parameters. As in previous approaches, we broadened our search to include mammalian and other fish studies when zebrafish-specific data were lacking. Based on the method used to measure or estimate parameters, or based on their species-specific origin, we scored and ranked the quality of available parameters. These scores were then used in Monte Carlo and partial rank correlation analyses to identify the most critical data gaps. The liver, where fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) and plasma proteins are considered, represented the best model-data agreement. Lack of agreement in other tissues suggest better parameters are needed. The results of our study highlight the lack of zebrafish-specific parameters. Based on sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, parameters associated with PFAA-protein interactions and passive diffusion need further refinement to enable development of predictive models for these emerging chemicals in zebrafish.

The present and future of withdrawal period calculations for milk in the European Union: focus on heterogeneous, nonmonotonic data

Harmonization of the method for calculating the withdrawal period for milk dates from the 1990s. European harmonization has led to guidance with three accepted methods for determining the withdrawal period for milk that are currently applicable. These three methods can be used by marketing authorization holders, but, in some cases, their diversity can lead to very different withdrawal periods. This is particularly the case when concentrations in milk are nonmonotonic and heterogeneous, meaning that concentrations strictly increase and then strictly decrease with significant interindividual variability in the time to reach the maximal concentration. Here, we first describe the concepts associated with the different methods used in the harmonized approach currently applicable for the determination of milk withdrawal periods, and then, we propose the application of a modern pharmacometric tool. Finally, with a nonmonotonic heterogeneous dataset, we illustrate the usefulness of this tool in comparison with the three currently applicable methods and discuss the limitations and advantages of each method.

Human Food Safety Implications of Variation in Food Animal Drug Metabolism

Violative drug residues in animal-derived foods are a global food safety concern. The use of a fixed main metabolite to parent drug (M/D) ratio determined in healthy animals to establish drug tolerances and withdrawal times in diseased animals results in frequent residue violations in food-producing animals. We created a general physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for representative drugs (ceftiofur, enrofloxacin, flunixin, and sulfamethazine) in cattle and swine based on extensive published literature. Simulation results showed that the M/D ratio was not a fixed value, but a time-dependent range. Disease changed M/D ratios substantially and extended withdrawal times; these effects exhibited drug- and species-specificity. These results challenge the interpretation of violative residues based on the use of the M/D ratio to establish tolerances for metabolized drugs.

In vivo therapeutic efficacy and pharmacokinetics of colistin sulfate in an experimental model of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection in weaned pigs

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC: F4) associated with post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in pigs has developed resistance against several antimicrobial families, leading to increased use of colistin sulfate (CS) for the treatment of this disease. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of oral CS treatment in experimental PWD due to ETEC: F4 challenge and determine the effect of this challenge on CS intestinal absorption. In this study, 96 pigs were divided into two trials based on CS dose (100 000 or 50 000 IU/kg). Fecal shedding of ETEC: F4, total E. coli, and CS-resistant E. coli, diarrhea scores, and weight changes were evaluated. Colistin sulfate plasma concentrations were determined by HPLC–MS/MS. Regardless of the dose, CS treatment resulted in a reduction of fecal ETEC: F4 and total E. coli shedding, and in diarrhea scores but only during the treatment period. However, CS treatment resulted in a slight increase in fecal shedding of CS resistant E. coli and did not prevent weight loss in challenged pigs. In addition, challenge with ETEC: F4 resulted in an increase of CS intestinal absorption. Our study is among the first to demonstrate that under controlled conditions, CS was effective in reducing fecal shedding of ETEC: F4 and total E. coli in experimental PWD. However, CS treatment was associated with a slight selection pressure on E. coli and did not prevent pig weight loss. Further studies are needed in field conditions, to better characterize CS therapeutic regimen efficacy and bacterial resistance dissemination.

Health concerns and management of select veterinary drug residues

The aim of this manuscript is to review the potential adverse health effects in humans if exposed to residues of selected veterinary drugs used in food-producing animals. Our other objectives are to briefly inform the reader of why many of these drugs are or were approved for use in livestock production and how drug residues can be mitigated for these drugs. The selected drugs include several antimicrobials, beta agonists, and phenylbutazone. The antimicrobials continue to be of regulatory concern not only because of their acute adverse effects but also because their use as growth promoters have been linked to antimicrobial resistance. Furthermore, nitroimidazoles and arsenicals are no longer approved for use in food animals in most jurisdictions. In recent years, the risk assessment and risk management of beta agonists, have been the focus of national and international agencies and this manuscript attempts to review the pharmacology of these drugs and regulatory challenges. Several of the drugs selected for this review can cause noncancer effects (e.g., penicillins) and others are potential carcinogens (e.g., nitroimidazoles). This review also focuses on how regulatory and independent organizations manage the risk of these veterinary drugs based on data from human health risk assessments.

Mathematical modeling and simulation in animal health. Part I: Moving beyond pharmacokinetics

The application of mathematical modeling to problems in animal health has a rich history in the form of pharmacokinetic modeling applied to problems in veterinary medicine. Advances in modeling and simulation beyond pharmacokinetics have the potential to streamline and speed-up drug research and development programs. To foster these goals, a series of manuscripts will be published with the following goals: (i) expand the application of modeling and simulation to issues in veterinary pharmacology; (ii) bridge the gap between the level of modeling and simulation practiced in human and veterinary pharmacology; (iii) explore how modeling and simulation concepts can be used to improve our understanding of common issues not readily addressed in human pharmacology (e.g. breed differences, tissue residue depletion, vast weight ranges among adults within a single species, interspecies differences, small animal species research where data collection is limited to sparse sampling, availability of different sampling matrices); and (iv) describe how quantitative pharmacology approaches could help understanding key pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of a drug candidate, with the goal of providing explicit, reproducible, and predictive evidence for optimizing drug development plans, enabling critical decision making, and eventually bringing safe and effective medicines to patients. This study introduces these concepts and introduces new approaches to modeling and simulation as well as clearly articulate basic assumptions and good practices. The driving force behind these activities is to create predictive models that are based on solid physiological and pharmacological principles as well as adhering to the limitations that are fundamental to applying mathematical and statistical models to biological systems.

Estimation of residue depletion of cyadox and its marker residue in edible tissues of pigs using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models are powerful tools to predict tissue distribution and depletion of veterinary drugs in food animals. However, most models only simulate the pharmacokinetics of the parent drug without considering their metabolites. In this study, a PBPK model was developed to simultaneously describe the depletion in pigs of the food animal antimicrobial agent cyadox (CYA), and its marker residue 1,4-bisdesoxycyadox (BDCYA). The CYA and BDCYA sub-models included blood, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, muscle, fat and other organ compartments. Extent of plasma-protein binding, renal clearance and tissue-plasma partition coefficients of BDCYA were measured experimentally. The model was calibrated with the reported pharmacokinetic and residue depletion data from pigs dosed by oral gavage with CYA for five consecutive days, and then extrapolated to exposure in feed for two months. The model was validated with 14 consecutive day feed administration data. This PBPK model accurately simulated CYA and BDCYA in four edible tissues at 24-120 h after both oral exposure and 2-month feed administration. There was only slight overestimation of CYA in muscle and BDCYA in kidney at earlier time points (6-12 h) when dosed in feed. Monte Carlo analysis revealed excellent agreement between the estimated concentration distributions and observed data. The present model could be used for tissue residue monitoring of CYA and BDCYA in food animals, and provides a foundation for developing PBPK models to predict residue depletion of both parent drugs and their metabolites in food animals.

Antibiotic residue monitoring results for pork, chicken, and beef samples in Vietnam in 2012-2013

A monitoring plan of residual antibiotics in food of animal origin was conducted in Vietnam from 2012 to 2013. Meat samples were collected from slaughterhouses and retail stores in Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. A total of 28 antibiotics were analyzed using a LC-MS/MS screening method. Sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, and tilmicosin were detected in some of the samples. Sulfaclozine and fluoroquinolones were mainly detected in chicken samples, and sulfamethazine was mainly detected in pork samples. High levels of sulfonamide residues, ranging between 2500 and 2700 μg/kg sulfaclozine and between 1300 and 3600 μg/kg sulfamethazine, were present in two chicken and three pork samples, respectively. Tilmicosin was detected at ranges of 150-450 μg/kg in 10 chicken samples. Positive percentages were 17.3, 8.8, and 7.4% for chicken, pork, and beef, respectively, for an average of 11.9%. The results suggest an appropriate withdrawal period after drug administration had not been observed in some livestock.

Development and application of a multiroute physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for oxytetracycline in dogs and humans

Oxytetracycline (OTC) is a commonly used tetracycline antibiotic in veterinary and human medicine. To establish a quantitative model for predicting OTC plasma and tissue exposure, a permeability-limited multiroute physiologically based pharmacokinetic model was developed in dogs. The model was calibrated with plasma pharmacokinetic data in beagle dogs following single intravenous (5 mg/kg), oral (100 mg/kg), and intramuscular (20 mg/kg) administrations. The model predicted other available dog data well, including drug concentrations in the liver, kidney, and muscle after repeated exposure, and data in the mixed-breed dog. The model was extrapolated to humans and the human model adequately simulated measured plasma OTC concentrations after intravenous (7.14 mg/kg) and oral exposures (6.67 mg/kg). The dog model was applied to predict 24-h OTC area-under-the-curve after three therapeutic treatments. Results were 27.75, 51.76, and 64.17 μg/mL*h in the plasma, and 120.93, 225.64, and 279.67 μg/mL*h in the kidney for oral (100 mg/kg), intravenous (10 mg/kg), and intramuscular (20 mg/kg) administrations, respectively. This model can be used to predict plasma and tissue concentrations to aid in designing optimal therapeutic regimens with OTC in veterinary, and potentially, human medicine; and as a foundation for scaling to other tetracycline antibiotics and to other animal species. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 104:233-243, 2015.

Interspecies mixed-effect pharmacokinetic modeling of penicillin G in cattle and swine

Extralabel drug use of penicillin G in food-producing animals may cause an excess of residues in tissue which will have the potential to damage human health. Of all the antibiotics, penicillin G may have the greatest potential for producing allergic responses to the consumer of food animal products. There are, however, no population pharmacokinetic studies of penicillin G for food animals. The objective of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model to describe the time-concentration data profile of penicillin G across two species. Data were collected from previously published pharmacokinetic studies in which several formulations of penicillin G were administered to diverse populations of cattle and swine. Liver, kidney, and muscle residue data were also used in this study. Compartmental models with first-order absorption and elimination were fit to plasma and tissue concentrations using a nonlinear mixed-effect modeling approach. A 3-compartment model with extra tissue compartments was selected to describe the pharmacokinetics of penicillin G. Typical population parameter estimates (interindividual variability) were central volumes of distribution of 3.45 liters (12%) and 3.05 liters (8.8%) and central clearance of 105 liters/h (32%) and 16.9 liters/h (14%) for cattle and swine, respectively, with peripheral clearance of 24.8 liters/h (13%) and 9.65 liters/h (23%) for cattle and 13.7 liters/h (85%) and 0.52 liters/h (40%) for swine. Body weight and age were the covariates in the final pharmacokinetic models. This study established a robust model of penicillin for a large and diverse population of food-producing animals which could be applied to other antibiotics and species in future analyses.

Development of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for flunixin in cattle (Bos taurus)

Frequent violation of flunixin residues in tissues from cattle has been attributed to non-compliance with the USFDA-approved route of administration and withdrawal time. However, the effect of administration route and physiological differences among animals on tissue depletion has not been determined. The objective of this work was to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to predict plasma, liver and milk concentrations of flunixin in cattle following intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) administration for use as a tool to determine factors that may affect the withdrawal time. The PBPK model included blood flow-limited distribution in all tissues and elimination in the liver, kidney and milk. Regeneration of parent flunixin due to enterohepatic recirculation and hydrolysis of conjugated metabolites was incorporated in the liver compartment. Values for physiological parameters were obtained from the literature, and partition coefficients for all tissues but liver and kidney were derived empirically. Liver and kidney partition coefficients and elimination parameters were estimated for 14 pharmacokinetic studies (including five crossover studies) from the literature or government sources in which flunixin was administered i.v., i.m. or s.c. Model simulations compared well with data for the matrices following all routes of administration. Influential model parameters included those that may be age or disease-dependent, such as clearance and rate of milk production. Based on the model, route of administration would not affect the estimated days to reach the tolerance concentration (0.125 mg kg(-1)) in the liver of treated cattle. The majority of USDA-reported violative residues in liver were below the upper uncertainty predictions based on estimated parameters, which suggests the need to consider variability due to disease and age in establishing withdrawal intervals for drugs used in food animals. The model predicted that extravascular routes of administration prolonged flunixin concentrations in milk, which could result in violative milk residues in treated cattle.

Prevalence of antimicrobial residues in pork meat in Madagascar

Residual antimicrobials in food constitute a risk to human health, but poor knowledge is available about the significance of contaminated meat in developing countries. The purpose of the study was to determine the occurrence of antimicrobial drug residues in pork products in Madagascar. The occurrence of antimicrobial drug residues in pork meat were investigated by the Premi® test (DSM(©)) technique. There was a high incidence rate of drug residues, with 360 (37.2 %) meat samples being contaminated. A significant increase was observed between 2010 and 2011, with 32 and 39%, respectively. Pork meat samples are less contaminated by drug residues when animals are slaughtered in urban abattoirs (34.4%) vs in provincial abattoirs (42.2%), suggesting that animals under treatment (or sick) are sold preferentially in local abattoir. Drug residue levels in pork meats purchased in Madagascar appear to be serious public health problem at the moment.

Estimating tulathromycin withdrawal time in pigs using a physiologically based pharmacokinetics model

A physiologically based pharmacokinetics model was developed to predict tulathromycin concentrations in edible swine tissues. Physiological parameters included volumes of and plasma flows through different tissues which were obtained from the literatures. The tissue/plasma partition coefficient was calculated according to the area method, and the model was validated through a comparison of predicted and observed concentrations. Withdrawal times in different tissues were predicted. The physiologically based pharmacokinetics model presented here provided accurate predictions of the observed concentrations in all tissues. The results showed that the injection site had the longest withdrawal time (21 days), followed by skin together with fat (19 days) and then kidney (10 days), lung (6 days), liver (4 days) and muscle (1 day). A withdrawal time of 21 days was finally predicted for tulathromycin in swine after a single intramuscular injection at 2.5 mg/kg body weight.

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for the prediction of the depletion of methyl-3-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid, the marker residue of olaquindox, in the edible tissues of pigs

To estimate the consumer exposure to olaquindox (OLA) residues in porcine edible tissues, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for methyl-3-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (MQCA), the marker residue of OLA, was developed in pigs based on the assumptions of the flow-limited distribution, hepatic metabolism, and renal excretion. The model included separate compartments corresponding to blood, muscle, liver, kidney, adipose, and an extra compartment representing the remaining carcass. Physiological parameters were determined from literatures. Plasma protein binding, partition coefficients, and renal clearance for MQCA were determined in in vitro and in vivo studies. The metabolic conversion of OLA to MQCA was assumed as a simple, one-step process, and an apparent first-order rate constant (k) was employed to describe this metabolic process. The PBPK model was optimized and validated with plasma and tissue data from literatures and our study. Sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation were also implemented to estimate the influence of model parameters on the goodness of fit. When compared with the observed data, the PBPK model underestimated the MQCA level in all compartments at the early time points, whereas gave excellent predictions of MQCA concentration in porcine edible tissues at later time points. The correlation coefficients between the predicted and observed values were over 0.88. The consistency between the model predictions and the real residues of OLA in pigs proved the good applicability of our model in food safety risk assessment.

Use of population pharmacokinetic modeling and Monte Carlo simulation to capture individual animal variability in the prediction of flunixin withdrawal times in cattle

The objective of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model and predict tissue residues and the withdrawal interval (WDI) of flunixin in cattle. Data were pooled from published PK studies in which flunixin was administered through various dosage regimens to diverse populations of cattle. A set of liver data used to establish the regulatory label withdrawal time (WDT) also were used in this study. Compartmental models with first-order absorption and elimination were fitted to plasma and liver concentrations by a population PK modeling approach. Monte Carlo simulations were performed with the population mean and variabilities of PK parameters to predict liver concentrations of flunixin. The PK of flunixin was described best by a 3-compartment model with an extra liver compartment. The WDI estimated in this study with liver data only was the same as the label WDT. However, a longer WDI was estimated when both plasma and liver data were included in the population PK model. This study questions the use of small groups of healthy animals to determine WDTs for drugs intended for administration to large diverse populations. This may warrant a reevaluation of the current procedure for establishing WDT to prevent violative residues of flunixin.

Kinetic modeling of β-chloroprene metabolism: Probabilistic in vitro-in vivo extrapolation of metabolism in the lung, liver and kidneys of mice, rats and humans

β-Chloroprene (chloroprene) is carcinogenic in inhalation bioassays with B6C3F1 mice and Fischer rats, but the potential effects in humans have not been adequately characterized. In order to provide a better basis for evaluating chloroprene exposures and potential effects in humans, we have explored species and tissue differences in chloroprene metabolism. This study implemented an in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) approach to parameterize a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for chloroprene and evaluate the influence of species and gender differences in metabolism on target tissue dosimetry. Chloroprene metabolism was determined in vitro using liver, lung and kidney microsomes from male or female mice, rats, and humans. A two compartment PK model was used to estimate metabolism parameters for chloroprene in an in vitro closed vial system, which were then extrapolated to the whole body PBPK model. Two different strategies were used to estimate parameters for the oxidative metabolism of chloroprene: a deterministic point-estimation using the Nelder-Mead nonlinear optimization algorithm and probabilistic Bayesian analysis using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique. Target tissue dosimetry (average amount of chloroprene metabolized in lung per day) was simulated with the PBPK model using the in vitro-based metabolism parameters. The model-predicted target tissue dosimetry, as a surrogate for a risk estimate, was similar between the two approaches; however, the latter approach provided a measure of uncertainty in the metabolism parameters and the opportunity to evaluate the impact of that uncertainty on predicted risk estimates.

Evaluation of linear regression statistical approaches for withdrawal time estimation of veterinary drugs

The safety of foods of animal origin requires the determination of the time at which veterinary drug residues in edible tissues are below a given maximum residue limit (MRL). For this reason, a certain withdrawal time estimate is determined for drugs based on statistical evaluation of concentrations determined by analytical analysis of residues in target organs of healthy animals. The purposes of this paper is to evaluate the linear regression statistical approach for the estimation of withdrawal time of veterinary drugs as recommended by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union/Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary use (EU/CVMP) and compare the application with a real model example. The withdrawal time estimate of the model has shown 2-5 days difference for the increase in tolerance limit from 95% (EU) to 99% (FDA) when calculated including censored data. But when it was excluded the range increased to 2-8 days for the same increase in tolerance. Furthermore, wider range of difference (3-21 days) and variation in significance was observed with inclusion/exclusion of censored data at the same level of tolerance. In conclusion, this study suggests inclusion/exclusion of censored data should be dependent on satisfying the statistical assumptions required rather than always including/excluding.

Use of a Monte Carlo analysis within a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to predict doxycycline residue withdrawal time in edible tissues in swine

The pharmacokinetics of doxycycline were studied following a single intravenous (I.V.) and intramuscular (I.M.) injection of 10 mg/kg into eight healthy pigs. The steady-state tissue/plasma partition coefficients were obtained via a 3-h constant rate infusion (CRI) in four pigs. Based on the results of in vivo studies and the parameters derived from published work, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed to predict the drug concentration in edible tissues. The predicted values were then compared with those derived from a previous study. To account for individual differences in the processes of drug metabolism and/or diffusion, a Monte Carlo (MC) run of 1000 simulations was incorporated into the PBPK model to predict the doxycycline residue withdrawal times in edible tissues in swine. The withdrawal periods were compared with those derived from linear regression analysis. The PBPK model presented here provided accurate predictions of the observed concentrations in all tissues except for the injection site. The withdrawal times in all edible tissues derived from the MC analysis were longer than those from linear regression analysis. Based on the residues in the injection site and muscle tissue, the MC analysis predicted a withdrawal time of 33 days. Here, we illustrate that MC analysis can be incorporated into the PBPK model to accurately predict doxycycline residue withdrawal time in edible tissues in swine.

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for valnemulin in rats and extrapolation to pigs

A flow-limited, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for predicting the plasma and tissue concentrations of valnemulin after a single oral administration to rats was developed, and then the data were extrapolated to pigs so as to predict withdrawal interval in edible tissues. Blood/tissue pharmacokinetic data and blood/tissue partition coefficients for valnemulin in rats and pigs were collected experimentally. Absorption, distribution and elimination of the drug were characterized by a set of mass-balance equations. Model simulations were achieved using a commercially available software program. The rat PBPK model better predicted plasma and tissue concentrations. The correlation coefficients of the predicted and experimentally determined values for plasma, liver, kidney, lung and muscle were 0.96, 0.94, 0.96, 0.91 and 0.91, respectively. The rat model parameters were extrapolated to pigs to estimate valnemulin residue withdrawal interval in edible tissues. Correlation (R(2) ) between predicted and observed liver, kidney and muscle were 0.95, 0.97 and 0.99, respectively. Based on liver tissue residue profiles, the pig model estimated a withdrawal interval of 10 h under a multiple oral dosing schedule (5.0 mg/kg, twice daily for 7.5 days). PBPK models, such as this one, provide evidence of the usefulness in interspecies PK data extrapolation over a range of dosing scenarios and can be used to predict withdrawal interval in pigs.

Population pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin in chicken based on retrospective data, incorporating first-pass metabolism

A population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model for enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin in chicken based on retrospective data was developed. Plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin were determined in blood samples from chicken administered either enrofloxacin via oral and intravenous routes or ciprofloxacin via intravenous injection. The disposition of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin was described simultaneously by an integrated mathematic model. Two compartments were used to describe the enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin disposition profiles. The formation of ciprofloxacin was through the central compartment of enrofloxacin. The integrated model was estimated with nonlinear mixed effects model (NONMEM). The total clearance of enrofloxacin (CLEN) and ciprofloxacin (CLCP) was 0.613 L/h and 1.15 L/h, respectively. Correlation between CLEN, the central compartment volume of distribution for enrofloxacin (V2) and CLCP was estimated. After intravenous administration of enrofloxacin, the transformation rate of enrofloxacin to ciprofloxacin was 0.429 L/h. The bioavailability factor after oral administration was 0.926, and 12.6% of enrofloxacin after oral administration was transformed to ciprofloxacin via first-pass effect. Pharmacodynamic (PD) evaluation was performed using area under concentration time curve of active moiety from 0 to 24 h and MIC collected from literature. This study is the first one to use PPK method to investigate parent drug and its metabolite disposition and PDs using an integrated model in veterinary medicine.