title: Pharmacokinetics after intravenous, subcutaneous, and oral administration of enrofloxacin to alpacas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and the active metabolite ciprofloxacin after p.o, s.c., and i.v. administration of enrofloxacin to alpacas.
  
  
  METHODS
  6 adult female alpacas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A crossover design was used for administration of 3 single-dose treatments of enrofloxacin to alpacas, which was followed by an observational 14-day multiple-dose regimen. Single-dose treatments consisted of i.v. and s.c. administration of injectable enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg) and p.o administration of enrofloxacin tablets (10 mg/kg) dissolved in grain to form a slurry. Plasma enrofloxacin concentrations were measured by use of high-performance liquid chromatography. The multiple-dose regimen consisted of feeding a mixture of crushed and moistened enrofloxacin tablets mixed with grain. Behavior, appetite, and fecal quality were monitored throughout the 14-day treatment regimen and for 71 additional days following treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean half-life following i.v., s.c., and p.o. administration was 11.2, 8.7, and 16.1 hours, respectively. For s.c. and p.o administration, mean total systemic availability was 90.18% and 29.31%, respectively; mean maximum plasma concentration was 3.79 and 1.81 microg/mL, respectively; and area under the curve (AUC) was 50.05 and 33.97 (microg x h)/mL, respectively. The s.c. or p.o administration of a single dose of enrofloxacin yielded a ratio for AUC to minimum inhibitory concentration > 100 for many grampositive and gram-negative bacterial pathogens common to camelids. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The administration of enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg, s.c., or 10 mg/kg, p.o) may be appropriate for antimicrobial treatment of alpacas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife and Conservation Medicine, the Wilds, 14000 International Rd, Cumberland, OH 43727, USA.
authors.forename: A Rae
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gandolf
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Papich
authors.forename: Amy B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bringardner
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077422:Enrofloxacin; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006207:Half-Life; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D015363:Quinolones; D000077422:Enrofloxacin