title: Pharmacokinetics of nebulized and subcutaneously implanted terbinafine in cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus).
abstract: Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the causative agent of snake fungal disease, is proposed as a serious threat to the conservation of several snake populations. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of terbinafine administered through nebulization and a sustained subcutaneous implant as potential treatments of Ophidiomyces in reptiles. Seven adult cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) were used in single-dose trials. Each snake was nebulized with terbinafine (2 mg/ml) for 30 min and had blood collected before nebulization and up to 12 hr after nebulization. Following a 5-month washout, the same snakes were administered a subcutaneous implant containing 24.5 mg terbinafine; blood was collected at baseline, 1 day postimplant placement, and then once weekly for 9 weeks. Plasma for both studies was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The mean plasma concentrations of nebulized terbinafine peaked between 0.5 and 4 hr. The subcutaneously implanted terbinafine reached therapeutic concentrations on day 1 and maintained therapeutic for over 6 weeks. These methods and doses are recommended as potential treatment options for snake fungal disease in reptiles.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Epidemiology Lab, Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: L P
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3945-7369
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Epidemiology Lab, Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Allender
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Epidemiology Lab, Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Epidemiology Lab, Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leister
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Epidemiology Lab, Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rzadkowska
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Epidemiology Lab, Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boers
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D017836:Agkistrodon / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000077291:Terbinafine
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000077291:Terbinafine
keywords: 
  Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola
  ; Pharmacokinetics; implant; nebulization; terbinafine