title: Pharmacokinetics of cefovecin sodium after subcutaneous administration to Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pharmacokinetics of cefovecin sodium after SC administration to Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni).
  
  
  METHODS
  23 healthy adult Hermann's tortoises (15 males and 8 females).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cefovecin (8.0 mg/kg) was injected once in the subcutis of the neck region of Hermann's tortoises, and blood samples were obtained at predetermined time points. Plasma cefovecin concentrations were measured via ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with a noncompartmental model. Plasma protein concentration was quantified, and the percentage of cefovecin bound to protein was estimated with a centrifugation technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cefovecin was absorbed rapidly, reaching maximum plasma concentrations between 35 minutes and 2 hours after administration, with the exception of 1 group, in which it was reached after 4 hours. The mean ± SD time to maximum concentration was 1.22 ± 1.14 hours; area under the concentration-time curve was 220.35 ± 36.18 h•μg/mL The mean protein-bound fraction of cefovecin ranged from 41.3% to 47.5%. No adverse effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of a single dose of cefovecin SC appeared to be well-tolerated in this population of tortoises. Results of pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that the 2-week dosing interval suggested for dogs and cats cannot be considered effective in tortoises; however, further research is needed to determine therapeutic concentrations of the drug and appropriate dose ranges.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Veterinaria Modena Sud, Piazza dei Tintori 1, 41057 Spilamberto, MO, Italy.
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nardini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbarossa
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dall'Occo
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cagnardi
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Magnone
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bielli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roncada
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaghini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D014426:Turtles / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; C516253:cefovecin