The influence of the site of drug administration on florfenicol pharmacokinetics in turkeys

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug used in the treatment of farm animals, including poultry. This drug is poorly soluble in water, therefore, administration in drinking water may lead to high variability of concentrations in treated individuals. The use of injection preparations, however, requires individual administration and may have a negative effect on the quality of the carcass. In addition, the renal portal system in birds may reduce the bioavailability of the drug administered in the caudofemoral region of the body. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in turkeys after a single intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous administration at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight. Additionally, to evaluate the effect of renal portal system on drug kinetics, the intramuscular administration was divided into pectoral and caudofemoral administration. The study showed that the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was similar regardless of the route of administration. The mean values for clearance and volume of distribution were 0.33 L/kg/h and 0.92 L/kg, respectively. The mean residence time (MRT) was 2.87 h for an intravenous bolus, while for the extravascular administrations it was approx. 5.5 h. The elimination half-life was approx. 4 h regardless of the route of administration. The maximum plasma concentration did not differ statistically between intramuscular (approx. 6.8 mg/L) and subcutaneous (8.2 mg/L) administrations, while the time to appear for this concentration was the longest for caudofemoral administration (1.5 h). The bioavailability was 88.64% for subcutaneous administration, 77.95% for pectoral administration and 85.30% for caudofemoral administration. Overall, all 3 routes of extravascular administration allowed for efficient drug absorption. There was no evidence of an influence of the renal portal system on the kinetic parameters of the drug administered to the lower extremities of the body.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol and thiamphenicol after single oral and intravenous, as well as multiple oral administrations to geese

1. This study evaluated the pharmacokinetic profiles of florfenicol (FF) and thiamphenicol (TP), which are synthetic bacteriostatic antimicrobial drugs, in geese after a single intravenous or oral administration, as well as seven oral doses administered at 12 h intervals. For all treatments, the dose was 30 mg/kg. 2. After single IV administration, clearance and volume of distribution were low (0.23 ± 0.03 l/h/kg and 0.57 ± 0.08 l/kg for FF, and 0.23 ± 0.04 l/h/kg and 0.59 ± 0.08 l/kg for TP, respectively). The elimination half-life was similar between products and short (2.91 ± 0.41 and 2.84 ± 0.64 h for FF and TP, respectively). 3. The single oral administration resulted in efficient absorption (bioavailability of 83.15 ± 11.48 for FF and 75.21 ± 19.56% for TP) with high maximal concentrations of 30.47 ± 2.47 and 20.02 ± 3.87 μg/ml for FF and TP, respectively. The area under the curve was 108.36 ± 14.96 and 101.81 ± 26.48 mg×h/l for FF and TP, respectively. 4. For both drugs, the two latter parameters were found to be higher compared to earlier studies on terrestrial birds. This suggested that FF and TP may be efficient in treating infections in geese caused by certain bacteria sensitive to chloramphenicol. 5. Neither drug accumulated in tissues following the oral seven doses and no adverse effects were noted in any treated animals. Thus, the selected FF and TP dosage may be considered as a safe treatment for geese.

Modulation of lymphocyte subsets and humoral immune response by florfenicol administered to sheep red blood cell-immunized broiler chickens

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic commonly used for the treatment of systemic infections in farm animals. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of florfenicol on the percentage of T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, TCRgd+ cells) and B lymphocytes (Bu-1+ cells) and on total serum anti - sheep red blood cell (SRBC) haemagglutinin titer in the peripheral blood of SRBC-immunized broiler chickens. The study included three groups of broiler chickens differentiated by weight (0.5, 1.2, 2.4 kg). Florfenicol was administered orally at a dose of 30 mg/kg. The drug was administered eight times at 24 h intervals. The chickens were immunized with SRBC 24 h after administration of the third dose of florfenicol. Florfenicol increased the percentage of CD3+ blood lymphocytes with a corresponding decrease in the percentage of B lymphocytes in birds weighing 0.5 and 2.4 kg. Florfenicol reduced the production of total anti SRBC-haemagglutinins on day 5 after antigen injection in all three body weight groups of the broiler chickens. In conclusion, florfenicol exerted a modulating effect on the immune response of the birds and this should be taken into consideration when using this antibiotic for certain indications.

The influence of rapid growth on sodium salicylate pharmacokinetics in male turkeys

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of growth on the pharmacokinetics of sodium salicylate (SS) in male turkeys. SS was administered intravenously at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Plasma drug concentrations were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental analysis. As the age increased from 6 to 13 weeks (body weight increase from 2.35 to 9.43 kg), median body clearance decreased from 1.34 to 0.87 ml/min/kg. This caused a significant increase in the median mean residence time from 3.42 to 4.44 hr. Elimination phase proved to be biphasic and two elimination half-lives (T_1/2el ) were distinguished. Whereas T_1/2el1 was found to increase with age by 128%, T_1/2el2 represented a later but faster and less age-dependent phase of elimination (increase by 56% in the respective groups). Volume of distribution decreased with age. These effects may lead to different therapeutic response to SS in turkeys of different age and body weights.

The influence of growth and E. coli endotoxaemia on amoxicillin pharmacokinetics in turkeys

1. This experiment aimed to determine if the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin (AMO) was affected by rapid growth or intravenous (i.v.) injection of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). 2. Turkeys of 2.0, 5.5 and 12.0 kg were administered i.v. or orally with AMO sodium at the dose of 15 mg/kg. Another group (5.7 kg) was treated with LPS prior to i.v. AMO administration. Plasma drug concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a non-compartmental model. To assess the haemodynamic effects of endotoxaemia, turkeys were subjected to echocardiography. 3. During growth from 2.0 to 5.5 kg, the area under the drug concentration-time curve after i.v. AMO administration increased from 9.37 ± 2.43 to 21.29 ± 5.49 mg×h/ml. Total body clearance decreased from 1.72 ± 0.55 to 0.75 ± 0.12 l/h/kg. Growth to 12.0 kg did not further affect these parameters. Mean residence time and elimination half-life gradually increased. Pharmacokinetics of orally administered drug followed a similar pattern. LPS injection affected stroke volume, heart rate and resistance index. However, it did not affect the pharmacokinetic profile of AMO in survivors. 4. It is concluded that rapid growth in turkeys affects AMO pharmacokinetics. Endotoxaemia, on the other hand, does not affect AMO elimination if compensatory mechanisms develop.

Metronidazole pharmacokinetics during rapid growth in turkeys - relation to changes in haemodynamics and drug metabolism

Whereas interspecies variation in pharmacokinetics is a commonly investigated issue, variations in drug kinetics within a species are less documented. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of age-related changes in haemodynamics on the pharmacokinetics of metronidazole (MTZ) and its hydroxy metabolite (MTZ-OH) in turkeys. MTZ was administered intravenously and orally at a dose of 25 mg/kg. Plasma drug and metabolite concentrations were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental analysis. Haemodynamic parameters (heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output) were assessed by echocardiography and extraction ratio for MTZ was calculated based on total body clearance (ClB ). Between the 5th and 15th week of age, ClB of MTZ decreased from 3.6 to 1.2 mL/min/kg causing a twofold increase in the mean residence time (MRT) and elimination half-life (T1/2el ). The MTZ-OH production decreased threefold and its MRT and T1/2el increased. Although heart rate significantly decreased with age, cardiac output increased. Extraction ratio was low in all age groups. It is concluded that significant age-dependent decrease in ClB of MTZ in turkeys resulted from decreased perfusion of the clearing organs and their reduced metabolic capacity. This phenomenon is probably species specific and may apply to other therapeutic agents.