Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) after single intravenous and intramuscular injections.
The pharmocodynamics of single injections of florfenicol in yearling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were determined. Eight juvenile loggerhead sea turtles weighing 1.25 (+/- 0.18) kg were divided into two groups. Four animals received 30 mg/kg of florfenicol i.v., and four received the same dose i.m. Plasma florfenicol concentrations were analyzed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. After the i.v. dose, there was a biphasic decline in plasma florfenicol concentration. The initial steep phase from 3 min to 1 hr had a half-life of 3 min, and there was a longer slow phase of elimination, with a half-life that ranged from 2 to 7.8 hr among turtles. The volume of distribution varied greatly and ranged from 10.46 to -60 L/kg. Clearance after the i.v. dose was 3.6-6.3 L/kg/hr. After the i.m. injection, there was a peak within 30 min of 1.4-5.6 microg/ml, and florfenicol was thereafter eliminated with a half-life of 3.2-4.3 hr. With either route, florfenicol plasma concentrations were below the minimum inhibitory concentrations for sensitive bacteria within 1 hr. Florfenicol does not appear to be a practical antibiotic in sea turtles when administered at these doses.
Environmental Medicine Consortium, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, USA.
M Andrew
MA
Stamper
Mark G
MG
Papich
Gregory A
GA
Lewbart
Stuart B
SB
May
Delta D
DD
Plummer
Michael K
MK
Stoskopf
D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D006207:Half-Life; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D011897:Random Allocation; D013839:Thiamphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014426:Turtles / Q000378:metabolism*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C035534:florfenicol; D013839:Thiamphenicol