Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in veal calves

Plasma and tissue depletion of florfenicol and florfenicol-amine in chickens

Chickens were used to investigate plasma disposition of florfenicol after single intravenous (i.v.) and oral dose (20 mg kg-1 body weight) and to study residue depletion of florfenicol and its major metabolite florfenicol-amine after multiple oral doses (40 mg kg-1 body weight, daily for 3 days). Plasma and tissue samples were analyzed using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. After i.v. and oral administration, plasma concentration-time curves were best described by a two-compartment open model. The mean [ +/- standard deviation (SD)] elimination half-life (t1/2beta) of florfenicol in plasma was 7.90 +/- 0.48 and 8.34 +/- 0.64 h after i.v. and oral administration, respectively. The maximum plasma concentration was 10.23 +/- 1.67 microg mL-1, and the interval from oral administration until maximal concentration was 0.63 +/- 0.07 h. Oral bioavailability was found to be 87 +/- 16%. Florfenicol was converted to florfenicol-amine. After multiple oral dose (40 mg kg-1 body weight, daily for 3 days), in kidney and liver, concentrations of florfenicol (119.34 +/- 31.81 and 817.34 +/- 91.65 microg kg-1, respectively) and florfenicol-amine (60.67 +/- 13.05 and 48.50 +/- 13.07 microg kg-1, respectively) persisted for 7 days. The prolonged presence of residues of florfenicol and florfenicol-amine in edible tissues can play an important role in human food safety, because the compounds could give rise to a possible health risk. A withdrawal time of 6 days was necessary to ensure that the residues of florfenicol were less than the maximal residue limits or tolerance established by the European Union.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol and its metabolite, florfenicol amine, in dogs

A study on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of florfenicol was conducted in six healthy dogs following a single intravenous (i.v.) or oral (p.o.) dose of 20 mg kg(-1) body weight (b.w.). Florfenicol concentrations in serum were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Plasma concentration-time data after p.o. or i.v. administration were analyzed by a non-compartmental analysis. Following i.v. injection, the total body clearance was 1.03 (0.49) L kg(-1)h(-1) and the volume of distribution at steady-state was 1.45 (0.82) L kg(-1). Florfenicol was rapidly distributed and eliminated following i.v. injection with 1.11 (0.94)h of the elimination half-life. After oral administration, the calculated mean C(max) values (6.18 microg ml(-1)) were reached at 0.94 h in dogs. The elimination half-life of florfenicol was 1.24 (0.64) h and the absolute bioavailability (F) was achieved 95.43 (11.60)% after oral administration of florfenicol. Florfenicol amine, the major metabolite of florfenicol, was detected in all dogs after i.v. and p.o. administrations.

Induction of the carrier state in pigeons infected with Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar typhimurium PT99 by treatment with florfenicol: a matter of pharmacokinetics

Paratyphoid caused by Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium is the main bacterial disease in pigeons. The ability of Salmonella serovar Typhimurium to persist intracellularly inside pigeon macrophages results in the development of chronic carriers, which maintain the infection in the flock. In this study, the effect of drinking-water medication with florfenicol on Salmonella infection in pigeons was examined. The pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in pigeons revealed a relatively high volume of distribution of 2.02 liters/kg of body weight and maximum concentrations in plasma higher than the MICs for the Salmonella strain used (4 microg/ml) but quick clearance of florfenicol due to a short half-life of 1.73 h. Together with highly variable bioavailability and erratic drinking-water uptake, these parameters resulted in the inability to reach a steady-state concentration through the continuous administration of florfenicol in the drinking water. Florfenicol was capable of reducing only moderately the number of intracellular salmonellae in infected pigeon macrophages in vitro. Only at high extracellular concentrations (>16 microg/ml) was a more-than-10-fold reduction of the number of intracellular bacteria noticed. Florfenicol treatment of pigeons via the drinking water from 2 days after experimental inoculation with Salmonella serovar Typhimurium until euthanasia at 16 days postinoculation resulted in a reduction of Salmonella shedding and an improvement in the fecal consistency. However, internal organs in florfenicol-treated pigeons were significantly more heavily colonized than those in untreated pigeons. In conclusion, the oral application of florfenicol for the treatment of pigeon paratyphoid contributes to the development of carrier animals through sub-MIC concentrations in plasma that do not inhibit intracellular persistency.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol, thiamphenicol, and chloramphenicol in turkeys

The pharmacokinetics of florfenicol (FF), thiamphenicol (TP) and chloramphenicol (CP) after single intravenous (i.v.) or oral (p.o.) administration was studied in an independent cross-over study in broiler turkeys. All the fenicol antibiotics were administered at a dose of 30 mg/kg b.w. and their concentrations in plasma samples were assayed using the same validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by a noncompartmental method. The kinetic profiles of the compounds were compared with the results of the structure-activity relationship. According to the proposed mathematical description, no differences in plasma clearance values for the studied antibiotics were observed. The mean residence time values of FF, TF, and CP after i.v. injection were 3.37+/-0.63, 2.43+/-0.29, and 2.12+/-0.21 h, respectively. The mean values of Varea for FF (1.39+/-0.31 L/kg) and TP (1.31+/-0.19 L/kg) were similar, but significantly different from that of CP (1.04+/-0.12 L/kg). The bioavailabilities of FF, TP, and CP after oral administration were 82%, 69%, and 45%, respectively. Differences in the bioavailability values of the compared fenicol antibiotics correspond to the ratio of the apolar/polar surface areas of their particles.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol and its major metabolite, florfenicol amine, in rabbits

The pharmacokinetics of florfenicol and its active metabolite florfenicol amine were investigated in rabbits after a single intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.o.) administration of florfenicol at 20 mg/kg bodyweight. The plasma concentrations of florfenicol and florfenicol amine were determined simultaneously by an LC/MS method. After i.v. injection, the terminal half-life (t(1/2lambdaz)), steady-state volume of distribution, total body clearance and mean residence time of florfenicol were 0.90 +/- 0.20 h, 0.94 +/- 0.19 L/kg, 0.63 +/- 0.06 L/h/kg and 1.50 +/- 0.34 h respectively. The peak concentrations (C(max)) of florfenicol (7.96 +/- 2.75 microg/mL) after p.o. administration were observed at 0.90 +/- 0.38 h. The t(1/2lambdaz) and p.o. bioavailability of florfenicol were 1.42 +/- 0.56 h and 76.23 +/- 12.02% respectively. Florfenicol amine was detected in all rabbits after i.v. and p.o. administration. After i.v. and p.o. administration of florfenicol, the observed Cmax values of florfenicol amine (5.06 +/- 1.79 and 3.38 +/- 0.97 microg/mL) were reached at 0.88 +/- 0.78 and 2.10 +/- 1.08 h respectively. Florfenicol amine was eliminated with an elimination half-life of 1.84 +/- 0.17 and 2.35 +/- 0.94 h after i.v. and p.o. administration respectively.

Residue depletion of florfenicol and its metabolite florfenicol amine in Swine tissues after intramuscular administration

A study of the tissue depletion of florfenicol (FF) administered intramuscularly twice to swine at a dose rate of 20 mg per kg of body weight at 24 h intervals was carried out. Forty healthy cross swine were treated with the FF injection formulation. Five treated animals were selected randomly to be sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 14, 17, and 21 days withdrawal. FF and florfenicol amine (FFa) residue concentrations in muscle, liver, and kidney were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with photodiode array (PDA) detection at 225 nm. Liver samples showed the lowest FF and the highest FFa concentrations throughout the experiment period. However, the highest total concentrations of FF and FFa during the study were found in kidney, which indicated that kidney is the target tissue for FF. The sum of FF and FFa concentrations in all tissues analyzed was below the accepted maximum residue limits recommended by the Agriculture Ministry of People's Republic of China and the European Union at 8 days posttreatment.

PHARMACOKINETICS OF FLORFENICOL AFTER A SINGLE INTRAMUSCULAR DOSE IN WHITE-SPOTTED BAMBOO SHARKS (CHILOSCYLLIUM PLAGIOSUM)

This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in the white-spotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum). In addition to the pharmacokinetics, the potential application for treatment of bacterial meningitis was explored. A pilot study was used to compare doses of 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg i.m. Following that study, 10 adult sharks were administered a single i.m. dose of florfenicol at 40 mg/kg. Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were collected and analyzed for florfenicol by a sensitive and specific high-pressure liquid chromatographic method. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using both non-compartmental and compartmental techniques. The absorption produced an average peak at 54 (+/-19) hr from the i.m. site of administration, and the half-life was prolonged, averaging 269.79 hr (+/-135.87). Florfenicol plasma concentrations peaked at an average of 11.85 microg/ml (+/-1.45) and were maintained above our target minimum inhibitory concentration of 4-8 microg/ml for at least 120 hr. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations peaked at an estimated 9 microg/ml around 48 hr, surpassing the target minimum inhibitory concentration for at least 72 hr.

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of florfenicol following intravenous, intramuscular and oral administrations in rabbits

This study examined the disposition kinetics and bioavailability of florfenicol after intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral administration to rabbits at a dose of 30 mg/kg BW. Serial blood samples were collected through an indwelling catheter intermittently for 24 h for various routes. Plasma antibacterial concentrations were determined using a microbiological assay method with Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 as a reference organism. Plasma concentration-time data generated in the present study were analysed by non-compartmental methods based on statistical moment theory. Following i.v. administration, the overall elimination half-life (t1/2beta) was 1.54 h, mean residence time (MRT) was 1.69 h, mean volume of distribution at steady-state (Vdss) was 0.57 L/kg, and total body clearance (Cltot) was 0.34 L/kg/h. After i.m. and oral dosing, the terminal part of the curve should correspond to the absorption phase, instead of to the elimination phase, with terminal half-lives of 3.01 and 2.57 h, respectively. The mean absorption time (MAT) was 2.65 h for i.m. and 2.01 h for oral administration. Elimination rate constants differed with i.v., i.m. and oral administrations, suggesting a flip-flop situation. The observed mean peak plasma concentrations (Cmax obs) were 21.65 and 15.14 microg/ml achieved at a post-injection time (Tmax obs) of 0.5 h following i.m. and oral dosing, respectively. The absolute systemic availabilities were 88.25% and 50.79%, respectively, and the extent of plasma protein binding percent was 11.65%.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in North American elk (Cervus elaphus)

Florfenicol pharmacokinetics after administration of a single subcutaneous (s.c.) dose of 40 mg/kg of body weight in adult elk (Cervus elaphus) was investigated. Serum florfenicol concentrations were determined by a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with limit of quantification of 0.03 microg/mL. Florfenicol pharmacokinetic parameters in elk were estimated using a noncompartmental approach. After a single s.c. injection, florfenicol concentrations remained above 1 microg/mL for approximately 36 h and above 0.5 microg/mL for approximately 72 h. Following s.c. injection, florfenicol was absorbed rapidly with a mean maximum concentration (C(max)) of 3.7 microg/mL achieved at 4.2 h (T(max)). The C(max) value in elk is similar to values reported in cattle at the same dose, suggesting that the 40 mg/kg s.c. dose achieves therapeutic concentrations in elk. A mean elimination half-life (t(1/2)) of 44 h is shorter than that reported in cattle. The more rapid elimination half-life in elk suggests that elk may require a multiple dose regimen for therapeutic success with s.c. Nuflor. We recommend s.c. Nuflor be administered subcutaneously to elk every 24 h at a dose level of 40 mg/kg.

Intravenous and subcutaneous pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in sheep

Pharmacokinetic parameters of florfenicol were determined in 10 adult sheep (five wethers and five ewes) after a single 40 mg/kg intravenous (i.v.) dose, and three daily subcutaneous (s.c.) doses of 40 mg/kg of a commercial preparation (Nuflor((R))). The concentration of florfenicol in serum samples was assayed using a proprietary HPLC assay method, and pharmacokinetic parameters derived for individual animal data by each route using compartmental and noncompartmental approaches. Two animals (one male and one female) were excluded due to observed i.v. dosing problems, and a biexponential model was found to fit the i.v. data well for six of the other eight animals. Data from two males showed prolonged low concentrations of florfenicol in serum and were better fit by a three-compartment model. The mean +/- SD for the half-lives of the distribution and elimination phases for the six sheep best fit with a two-compartment model were 0.069 +/- 0.018 and 1.01 +/- 0.09 h respectively, and for the V(d(ss)) and clearances were 0.503 +/- 0.035 L/kg and 366 +/- 53 mL/h/kg respectively. The data collected during the s.c. multiple dose study were analyzed using noncompartmental methods only. The bioavailability (F%) after s.c. dosing was calculated in three ways to compare estimation methods as steady-state had not been reached and single dose s.c. data were not obtained past 24 h. Using the AUC(0--24) and AUC(0--> infinity ) from the first dose, the F% values averaged 27 and 40% respectively. Using the AUC(0--> infinity ) for all doses, the F% was 65%. Calculations of the mean time during which the serum concentration exceeded 0.5 and 1.0 microg/mL were 105 +/- 3.9 and 74.7 +/- 12.2 h respectively.

Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in healthy sheep*

A study on bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of florfenicol was conducted in 20 crossbred healthy sheep following a single intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) doses of 20 and 30 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). Florfenicol concentrations in serum were determined by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method with UV detection at a wavelength of 223 nm in which serum samples were spiked with chloramphenicol as internal standard. Serum concentration-time data after i.v. administration were best described by a three-compartment open model with values for the distribution half-lives (T(1/2alpha)) 1.51 +/- 0.06 and 1.59 +/- 0.10 h, elimination half-lives (T(1/2beta)) 18.83 +/- 6.76 and 18.71 +/- 1.85 h, total body clearance (Cl(B)) 0.26 +/- 0.03 and 0.25 +/- 0.01 L/kg/h, volume of distribution at steady-state (V(d(ss))) 1.86 +/- 0.11 and 1.71 +/- 0.20 L/kg, area under curve (AUC) 76.31 +/- 9.17 and 119.21 +/- 2.05 microg.h/mL after i.v. injections of 20 and 30 mg/kg b.w. respectively. Serum concentration-time data after i.m. administration were adequately described by a one-compartment open model. The pharmacokinetic parameters were distribution half-lives (T(1/2k(a) )) 0.27 +/- 0.03 and 0.25 +/- 0.09 h, elimination half-lives (T(1/2k(e) )) 10.34 +/- 1.11 and 9.57 +/- 2.84 h, maximum concentrations (C(max)) 4.13 +/- 0.29 and 7.04 +/- 1.61 microg/mL, area under curve (AUC) 67.95 +/- 9.61 and 101.95 +/- 8.92 microg.h/mL, bioavailability (F) 89.04% and 85.52% after i.m. injections of 20 and 30 mg/kg b.w. respectively.

Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in broiler chickens

The bioavailability and pharmacokinetic disposition of florfenicol in broiler chickens were investigated after intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral administrations of 15 and 30 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). Plasma concentrations of florfenicol were determined by a high performance liquid chromatographic method in which plasma samples were spiked with chloramphenicol as internal standard. Plasma concentration-time data after i.v. administration were best described by a two-compartment open model. The elimination half-lives were 168 +/- 43 and 181 +/- 71 min, total body clearance 1.02 +/- 0.17 and 1.02 +/- 0.16 L x kg/h, the volume of distribution at steady-state 4.99 +/- 1.11 and 3.50 +/- 1.01 L/kg after i.v. injections of 15 and 30 mg/kg b.w., respectively. Plasma concentration-time data after i.m. and oral administrations were adequately described by a one-compartment model. The i.m. bioavailability and the oral bioavailability of florfenicol were 95, 98 and 96, 94%, respectively, indicating that florfenicol was almost absorbed completely after i.m. and oral administrations of 15 and 30 mg/kg b.w.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in healthy pigs and in pigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

A comparative in vivo pharmacokinetic study of florfenicol was conducted in 18 crossbred pigs infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae following intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.), or oral (p.o.) administration of a single dose of 20 mg/kg. The disease model was confirmed by clinical signs, X rays, pathohistologic examinations, and organism isolation. Florfenicol concentrations in plasma were determined by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method with UV detection at a wavelength of 223 nm. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by using the MCPKP software (Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou, China). The disposition of florfenicol after a single i.v. bolus was described by a two-compartment model with values for the half-life at alpha phase (t(1/2alpha)), the half-life at beta phase (t(1/2beta)), the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC(0- infinity )), and the volume of distribution at steady state (V(ss)) of 0.37 h, 2.91 h, 64.86 micro g. h/ml, and 1.2 liter/kg, respectively. The concentration-time data fitted the one-compartment (after i.m.) and two-compartment (after p.o.) models with first-order absorption. The values for the maximum concentration of drug in serum (C(max)), t(1/2alpha), t(1/2beta), and bioavailability after i.m. and p.o. dosing were 4.00 and 8.11 micro g/ml, 0.12 and 3.91 h, 13.88 and 16.53 h, and 122.7 and 112.9%, respectively, for the two models. The study showed that florfenicol was absorbed quickly and completely, distributed widely, and eliminated slowly in the infected pigs, and there was no statistically significant difference between the pharmacokinetic profiles for the infected and healthy pigs.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in healthy and Escherichia coli-infected broiler chickens

The pharmacokinetics of florfenicol were studied in both healthy (n=9) and Escherichia coli-infected (n=27) broiler chickens following intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral administration at a single dose of 30 mg/kgbw. Infection was induced artificially in broiler chickens (35 d) by an intraperitoneal injection with 1.3 x 10(9) colony-forming units of E. coli. After i.v. administration in healthy and infected broiler chickens, the disposition kinetics of florfenicol were described by a bi-exponential equation. In diseased broiler chickens, a decrease in the elimination half-life and the apparent volume of distribution were found. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as total body clearance and the areas under curves of plasma concentrations were comparable in healthy and E. coli infected chickens. Following i.m. and oral administration in infected chickens, the plasma concentration-time data for florfenicol were found to fit a single-compartment open model. The elimination half-lives (t(1/2 el)) of florfenicol were 129(13) and 104(15)min, the systemic bioavailability 87% and 71% after i.m. and oral administration.

Tissue pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in pigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

The aim of this study has been to determine the tissue pharmacokinetic parameters of florfenicol in the pigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. 21 crossed-bred (Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire) local species of pigs were infected experimentally with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 and confirmed as typical sub-acute pleuropneumonia. A single dose of 20 mg/kg body weight of florfenicol, a novel animal-using antibiotic, was administrated intramuscularly in the pigs and then samples of blood, lung, trachea with bronchi, liver, kidney and muscle were taken at scheduled time points. Drug concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultraviolet detector via extraction with ethyl acetate under nitrogen flow. The statistic moment theory (SMT) mathematic package was applied to calculate the tissue pharmacokinetic parameters of florfenicol in the infected model. AUC of lung, trachea with bronchi, liver, kidney and muscle were 121.69, 79.37, 81.05, 181.2, and 94.07 mg/l x h, respectively, MRT were from 34.66 to 90.17 h, and t1/2beta from 24.75 to 69.34 h, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Florfenicol was widely distributed in these tissues and maintained the effective therapeutic concentrations especially in the respiratory tract tissues that are the target organs of Actinobacillus pneuropneumoniae.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Tissue pharmacokinetic data could be evidence for regime designing of florfenicol in treatment of porcine pleuropneumonia.

Disposition kinetics of florfenicol in goats by using two analytical methods

Florfenicol, a monofluorinated analogue of thiamphenicol, has antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of bacterial strains, including enteric bacteria that are resistant to chloramphenicol and thiamphenicol. The pharmacokinetics of florfenicol was studied following a single intravenous bolus or intramuscular injections at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, in five healthy goats. Serum florfenicol concentrations were determined using two analytical methods: microbiological assay and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using redundant routine equations and the results derived from each method were compared. While florfenicol was detected for up to 4 and 8 h after administration by the bioassay, the drug was recovered in serum after 12 and 24 h by HPLC following intravenous and intramuscular injections, respectively. Comparison of the concentration profiles obtained by the two methods revealed substantial differences in the resultant kinetic data. Values for the initial serum concentration, elimination half-life, the area under the serum concentration-time curve, the mean residence time, and the systemic bioavailability were significantly (P < 0.01) higher when florfenicol concentrations were determined using HPLC. In conclusion, differences between analytical methodologies should be considered when interpreting the kinetic data for clinical use. However, both the hepatic biotransformations and the interchangeability of enantiomers need further investigation.

Efficacy of florfenicol for treatment of naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of florfenicol for treatment of calves with naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK).

DESIGN

Randomized controlled field trial.

ANIMALS

63 beef calves and 80 dairy calves between 4 and 12 months of age.

PROCEDURE

Calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Calves in the SC treatment group received a single dose of florfenicol (40 mg/kg [18.2 mg/lb of body weight), SC, on day 0. Calves in the IM treatment group received florfenicol (20 mg/kg [9.1 mg/lb]), IM, on days 0 and 2. Calves in the control group received injections of saline solution (0.9% NaCl), IM, on days 0 and 2. Calves were reevaluated every other day for 20 days after treatment.

RESULTS

Corneal ulcers healed by day 20 in 48 of 49 (98%) calves treated with florfenicol IM, 39 of 42 (93%) calves treated with florfenicol SC, and 33 of 52 (63%) control calves.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Florfenicol administered SC (1 dose) or IM (2 doses 48 hours apart) was effective for treatment of calves with naturally occurring IBK.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol after treatment of pigs with single oral or intramuscular doses or with medicated feed for three days

The pharmacokinetics of florfenicol, a structural analogue of thiamphenicol, were studied in six pigs after single oral and intramuscular doses of 15 mg/kg bodyweight, and after feeding them with medicated feed containing 250 mg/kg for three days, a concentration which provided approximately the same dose rate of the drug. The oral doses contained a specially prepared pelleted formulation of the drug. The bioavailability of the drug was similar for the oral and intramuscular doses. Florfenicol was absorbed rapidly from the feed and its concentration in plasma remained between 2 and 6 microg/ml - above the minimum inhibitory concentration values for common pig pathogens - during the three days.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in normal and Pasteurella-infected Muscovy ducks

1. Disposition kinetics of florfenicol were studied in Pasteurella-free (control) and Pasturella-infected Muscovy ducks following intravenous and/or intramuscular injection in a single dose of 30 mg/kg body weight. In addition, the tissue distribution and residual pattern of the drug were determined in diseased ducks. 2. The maximum serum concentration of florfenicol in control healthy and infected ducks was reached 1 hour after intramuscular injection but the peak concentration in control ducks was higher than in infected birds. 3. The volume of distribution, total body clearance and systemic bioavailability were higher in infected ducks than in control birds 5.15 l/kg, 10.24 ml/kg/min and 73.03% respectively. Data relating to intravenous injection were analysed using a 2 compartment open model curve fit. 4. Florfenicol was not detected in the serum of infected ducks on the 7th day following intramuscular administration of 30 mg/kg body weight twice daily for 5 successive days but was detected in kidney, bile and liver.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of calves

Florfenicol, a fluorinated analog of thiamphenicol, is of great value in veterinary infectious diseases that formerly responded favorably to chloramphenicol. In view of the treatment of meningitis in calves, we studied its pharmacokinetics in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of six animals. To this end, a new high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed which, unlike previous ones, uses solid-phase instead of double-phase extraction to isolate the drug. After a single intravenous dose of 20 mg/kg of body weight, a maximum concentration in CSF of 4.67 +/- 1.51 microg/ml (n = 6) was reached, with a mean residence time of 8.7 h. The decline of florfenicol in both CSF and plasma fitted a biexponential model with elimination half-lives of 13.4 and 3.2 h, respectively. Florfenicol penetrated well into CSF, as evidenced from an availability of 46% +/- 3% relative to plasma. The levels remained above the MIC for Haemophilus somnus over a 20-h period. Our results provide evidence indicating the effectiveness of florfenicol in the treatment of bacterial meningitis of calves.

Tissue concentrations and pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in broiler chickens

1. Florfenicol (30 mg/kg body weight) was administered to broiler chickens via intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral routes to study its plasma concentrations, kinetic behaviour, systemic bioavailability and tissue content. 2. Following a single i.v. injection, the kinetic disposition of florfenicol followed a 2-compartmental open model with an elimination half-life of 173 min, total body clearance of 26.9 ml/kg/min and a steady state volume of distribution of 5.11 l/kg. 3. The highest plasma concentrations of florfenicol were 3.82 and 3.20 micrograms/ml following single i.m. and oral administration, respectively. The systemic bioavailability was 96.6% and 55.3% after i.m. and oral administration. The plasma protein binding of florfenicol was 18.5%. 4. Following its administration, the highest tissue concentrations of the drug were found in the kidney bile, lung, muscle, intestine, heart, liver, spleen and plasma. Low concentrations of the drug were found in brain, bone marrow and fat. No florfenicol residues were detected in tissues and plasma after 72 h except in the bile from where it disappeared after 96 h.

Pharmacokinetics and tolerance of florfenicol in Equidae

Florfenicol was administered to horses and ponies at a dose rate of 22 mg/kg bwt by i.v., i.m. and oral routes. Following i.v. administration it had an elimination half-life of 1.8 ± 0.9 h, a body clearance of 0.4 ± 0.11/h.kg and a volume of distribution at steady-state of 0.7 ± 0.2 1/kg. It was highly bioavailable following i.m. (81%) and oral (83%) administration. Less than 15% of the administered dose was excreted unchanged in the urine during the 30 h following administration. Animals treated with florfenicol had elevated bilirubin concentrations. Florfenicol was well tolerated by animals in the present study although all animals had loose faeces following administration by each route. At present, florfenicol cannot be recommended for clinical use until multiple dose studies have been carried out to confirm its safety.

Florfenicol pharmacokinetics in lactating cows after intravenous, intramuscular and intramammary administration

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol 30% injectable solution was determined in lactating cows after intravenous, intramammary and intramuscular administration. Serum concentration-time data generated in the present study were analysed by non-compartmental methods based on statistical moment theory. Florfenicol half-life was 176 min, mean residence time 129 min, volume of distribution at steady-state 0.35 L/kg, and total body clearance 2.7 mL/min.kg after intravenous administration at 20 mg/kg. The absorption after intramuscular administration appeared slow and the kinetic parameters and the serum concentration vs. time curve were characteristic of absorption rate-dependent elimination. The absorption after intramammary administration of florfenicol at 20 mg/kg was good (53.9%) and resulted in serum concentrations with apparent clinical significance. The intramammary administration resulted in serum florfenicol concentrations that were significantly higher than the respective serum concentrations following intravenous administration 4 h after administration and thereafter. Florfenicol absorption was faster from the mammary gland than from the muscle. The maximum serum concentrations (Cmax) were 6.9 micrograms/mL at 360 min after intramammary administration and 2.3 micrograms/mL at 180 min after intramuscular administration. The bioavailability of florfenicol was 54% and 38% after intramammary and intramuscular administration, respectively. The Cmax in milk was 5.4 micrograms/mL at 180 min after intravenous and 1.6 micrograms/mL at 600 min after intramuscular administration.

Thiamphenicol pharmacokinetics in beef and dairy cattle

The pharmacokinetics of thiamphenicol were investigated in 10 calves and six lactating cows. It was found that this drug is rapidly absorbed (15 min) following intramuscular injection with an absorption rate constant and a bioavailability of 8.7 h-1 and 84%, respectively. The drug appears to be widely distributed into various body fluids, yielding a volume of distribution (Vd(area) of approximately 0.9 l/kg. The micro-rate constants indicated that the antibiotic rapidly diffuses into the peripheral compartment (k12 > k21). Elimination from plasma is relatively rapid, with a biological half-life of about 1.75 h. Thiamphenicol appears shortly in milk (15 min) after its intravenous administration, and gives milk to plasma concentration ratios greater than one between 4 and 12 h.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol following intravenous and intramuscular doses to cattle

The disposition of florfenicol after single intravenous and intramuscular doses of 20 mg of florfenicol/kg of body weight (b.w.) to feeder calves was investigated. Serum florfenicol concentrations were determined by a sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method with a limit of quantitation of 0.025 microgram/ml. The extent of serum protein binding of florfenicol was only 13.2% at a serum florfenicol concentration of 3.0 micrograms/ml. Serum concentration-time data after intravenous administration were best described by a triexponential equation. Total body clearance and steady state volume of distribution were 3.75 ml/min/kg b.w. and 761 ml/kg b.w., respectively. The terminal half-life after intravenous administration was 159 min. The absolute systemic availability after intramuscular administration was 78.5% (range: 59.3-106%) and the harmonic mean of the terminal half-life was 1098 minutes, indicating slow release of the florfenicol from the formulation at the intramuscular injection site.

Simultaneous determination of residues of florfenicol and the metabolite florfenicol amine in fish tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous extraction and determination of residues of florfenicol and its metabolite florfenicol amine in fish tissue, muscle and liver has been developed. The calibration curves were linear, the recovery of florfenicol was 99-107%, and the recovery of florfenicol amine was 94-100%. The detection limits for florfenicol and florfenicol amine were 20 ng/g in muscle and 50 ng/g in liver.

Florfenicol in non-lactating dairy cows: pharmacokinetics, binding to plasma proteins, and effects on phagocytosis by blood neutrophils

Serial blood samples were collected and plasma concentrations of florfenicol (FLO) were measured following the administration of an intravenous bolus of 50 mg/kg FLO to five healthy non-lactating dairy cows. A triexponential equation provided the best fit of the data for four of the five cows. The mean value for beta corresponded to a half-life of 3.2 h. The mean apparent volume of distribution was 0.67 l/kg, and the mean body clearance was 0.15 l/kg/h. The extent of binding of FLO to bovine plasma proteins was determined in vitro at concentrations of 5 micrograms/ml and 50 micrograms/ml by equilibrium dialysis and ultrafiltration. The drug was 18% and 19% bound by equilibrium dialysis, and 23% and 19% bound by ultrafiltration, at 5 micrograms/ml and 50 micrograms/ml, respectively. Phagocytosis of 32phosphorus-labelled Staphylococcus aureus by bovine blood neutrophils was compared in vitro between neutrophils incubated in phosphate-buffered saline alone or in combination with 5, 125, or 1000 micrograms/ml chloramphenicol or FLO. There was no significant effect of chloramphenicol at any concentration. Florfenicol significantly inhibited phagocytosis at all concentrations, but the percentage inhibition was small. The clinical significance, if any, of this effect of FLO remains to be demonstrated.