title: Pharmacokinetics of fluconazole after oral administration of single and multiple doses in African grey parrots.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pharmacokinetics and effects of orally administered fluconazole in African grey parrots.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 clinically normal Timneh African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus timneh).
  
  
  METHODS
  In single-dose trials, parrots were placed into groups of 4 to 5 birds each and fluconazole was administered orally at 10 and 20 mg/kg. Blood samples for determination of plasma fluconazole concentrations were collected from each group at 2 or 3 of the following time points: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 31, 48, and 72 hours. In multiple-dose trials, fluconazole was administered orally to groups of 5 birds each at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg every 48 hours for 12 days. Trough plasma concentrations were measured 3 times during treatment. Groups receiving 20 mg/kg were monitored for changes in plasma biochemical analytes, and blood samples were collected on days 1 and 13 of treatment to allow comparison of terminal half-life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak plasma concentrations of fluconazole were 7.45 and 18.59 microg/mL, and elimination half-lives were 9.22 and 10.19 hours for oral administration of 10 and 20 mg/kg, respectively. Oral administration of fluconazole for 12 days at 10 or 20 mg/kg every 48 hours did not cause identifiable adverse effects or change the disposition of fluconazole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral administration of fluconazole to parrots at 10 to 20 mg/kg every 24 to 48 hours maintains plasma concentrations above the minimum inhibitory concentration for several common yeast species. The prolonged dosing interval is an advantage of this treatment regimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27606, USA.
authors.forename: Keven
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Flammer
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papich
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006207:Half-Life; D010311:Parrots / Q000378:metabolism*; D013535:Suspensions; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D013535:Suspensions; D013607:Tablets; D015725:Fluconazole