Some pharmacokinetic and biochemical aspects of sulphadiazine and sulphadimidine in ewes

Bioavailability and Pharmacokinetics of Sulphadiazine, N4-acetylsulphadiazine and Trimethoprim following Intravenous and Intramuscular Administration of a Sulphadiazine/Trimethoprim Combination in Sheep

The combination of sulphadiazine and trimethoprim is extensively used in farm animal species; however, there are no data concerning its pharmacokinetics after intramuscular administration in sheep. Twelve rams of the Chios breed were used to study the disposition of sulphadiazine, its metabolite N4-acetylsulphadiazine and trimethoprim after intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) administration of a sulphadiazine/trimethoprim (5:1) combination in sheep. Sulphadiazine bioavailability (+/-SD) was 69.00%+/-10.51%. The half-life of the terminal phase (4.10+/-0.58 h after i. v., and 4.03+/-0.31 h after i.m. administration) was significantly higher than the respective value for trimethoprim (0.59+/-0.19 h) after i.v. administration. The maintenance of a constant plasma concentration ratio after i.v. administration was therefore impossible. The acetylation capacity in sheep, determined by the AUC ratio between N4-acetylsulphadiazine and the parent compound, sulphadiazine, was very low (less than 4%). The most remarkable finding of this study was that trimethoprim was not detected in sheep plasma after i.m. injection. In conclusion, according to the findings of the present study, following i.v. administration of the sulphadiazine/trimethoprim combination, trimethoprim can be considered as the limiting factor for any possible synergistic effect, and the i.m. route cannot be recommended in sheep.

Pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and dosage regimen of sulphadiazine (SDZ) in camels (Camelus dromedarius)

The pharmacokinetics of sulphadiazine (SDZ) (100 mg/kg, body weight) were investigated in six camels (Camelus dromedarius) after intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.o.) administration. Following i.v. administration, the overall elimination rate constant (beta) was 0.029 +/- 0.001/h and the half-life (t1/2beta) was 23.14 +/- 1.06 h. The apparent volume of distribution (Vd(area)) was 0.790 +/- 0.075 L/kg and the total body clearance (ClB) was 23.29 +/- 2.50 mL/h/kg. After p.o. administration, SDZ reached a peak plasma concentration (Cmax(cal.)) of 62.93 +/- 2.79 microg/mL at a post injection time of (Tmax(cal.)) 22.98 +/- 0.83 h. The elimination half-life was 19.79 +/- 1.22 h, not significantly different from that obtained by the i.v. route. The mean absorption rate constant (Ka) was 0.056 +/- 0.002 h(-1) and the mean absorption half-life (t1/2Ka) was 12.33 +/- 0.37 h. The mean availability (F) of sulphadiazine was 88.2 +/- 6.2%. To achieve and maintain therapeutically satisfactory plasma SDZ levels of > or = 50 microg/mL, the priming and maintenance doses would be 80 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg intravenously and 90 mg/kg and 45 mg/kg orally, respectively, to be repeated at 24 h intervals.

The effect of experimental fascioliasis on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and sulphadimidine in desert sheep

Healthy adult male desert sheep were experimentally infected with Fasciola gigantica, to investigate the influence of experimental fasciolasis on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and sulphadimidine. Each animal received 500 metacercariae orally. The experimental infection was confirmed histologically, by detection of Fasciola eggs in faeces and by measuring the activities of the enzymes sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD), glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in plasma during the course of the disease. Changes in the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and sulphadimidine were reported in the experimentally infected animals. Significant prolongation of antipyrine half life was observed 16 weeks after infection. The half-life of sulphadimidine was also significantly prolonged 5, 9 and 16 weeks after infection. Clearance of the sulphonamide was decreased significantly 5 and 9 weeks after infection and it regained its pre-infection value 16 weeks after infection.

Pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and sulphadimidine (sulfamethazine) in camels, sheep and goats

The pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and sulphadimidine were studied in male camels, sheep and goats. The two drugs were administered concomitantly. Following intravenous injection of antipyrine (25 mg/kg) and sulphadimidine (sulfamethazine) (100 mg/kg), the pharmacokinetics of the two drugs were adequately described by a one-compartment model. Antipyrine half-life in goats (2.58 h) was shorter than that in sheep (4.04 h) and camels (18.78 h). The plasma clearance was greatest in goats then sheep and then camels. For sulphadimidine, a significantly greater volume of distribution was observed in camels and the greatest plasma clearance and shortest half-life were reported in goats. Sulphadimidine half-life was 2.77 h in goats, 4.72 h in sheep and 7.36 h in camels. The present results suggest that goats have the fastest elimination of these drugs from the circulation, followed by sheep and then camels.

Pharmacokinetics, safety and tissue residues of sustained-release sulfamethazine in sheep

Concentration-time profiles and the rates of absorption, extent of distribution and half-lives of sulfamethazine (SMZ), administered intravenously, orally as a water solution and as a sustained-release formulation (CalfSpan) were determined in 10 healthy sheep. The geometric mean half-life of elimination of i.v. SMZ was 10.8 h, compared to 14.3 h for the sustained-release preparation (CalfSpan) and 4.3 h for the oral water solution. Blood levels of SMZ were at or above 50 micrograms/ml for more than 48 h for CalfSpan, for 24 h after i.v. SMZ (100 mg/kg body wt), and for less than 24 h after p.o. SMZ (100 mg/kg body wt). The mean bioavailability of the oral SMZ solution was 58.3% (AUCp.o./AUCi.v.). The estimated bioavailability of the CalfSpan preparation was 52.5%. The safety of the sustained-release preparation was tested by dosing sheep with multiples (one, three and five times) of the recommended dose (one tablet, 8 g SMZ, per 20 kg body wt), once a day for 3 days. Clinical blood chemistries showed a significant increase in serum iron, and a decrease in serum phosphorus in animals treated at the 3x and 5x dose levels. Necropsies of the 5x dose animals did not show any gross signs that could be attributed to SMZ, and histological examination of tissues from the 5x animals revealed no organ pathology. Residues of SMZ in liver, fat, kidney and skeletal muscle were measured in 20 animals that received one bolus per 20 kg body wt. The results indicate that SMZ residues are cleared rapidly, and are at or below the tolerance level of 0.1 mg/kg within 8 days after dosing so that the 18-day withdrawal time used in cattle would provide an appropriate margin of safety if used in sheep.

Pharmacokinetics of sulfadimidine and its N4-acetyl metabolite in healthy and diseased rabbits infected with Pasteurella multocida

The pharmacokinetics of sulfadimidine (SDM) and its N4-acetyl metabolite (N4SDM) were investigated after intravenous bolus injection of a single dose (200 mg/kg) of SDM in normal and diseased New Zealand white rabbits. The apparent distribution volume at steady state, total body clearance and elimination half-life of SDM in normal animals were 0.7 +/- 0.3 l/kg, 0.57 +/- 0.24 l/kg/h and 1.6 +/- 1.3 h, respectively. Of the administered dose, 62.1% was metabolized by N4-acetylation, and 12.7 +/- 1.1 and 2.8 +/- 1.8% of the dose was excreted as free drug by the kidney and gastrointestinal tract, respectively. The 'apparent' formation and elimination half-lives of N4SDM were 0.6 +/- 0.4 and 2.2 +/- 1.1 h, respectively. The metabolite was eliminated mainly by excretion through the kidney. There was no significant effect of acute pasteurellosis on the pharmacokinetics of either SDM or N4SDM in rabbits.

Pharmacokinetics and distribution of sulphadimidine in plasma, milk and uterine fluid of female buffaloes

The pharmacokinetics of sulphadimidine after a single dose (200 mg/kg i.v.) was studied in five healthy lactating buffaloes. The study revealed that the drug attained its peak concentration of 314.0 +/- 13.0, 242.4 +/- 3.0 and 100.2 +/- 2.5 micrograms/ml at 15 min, 30 min and 12 h in plasma, milk and uterine fluid, respectively. The pharmacokinetic parameters calculated by a 2-compartment open model gave values for t1/2 alpha, t1/2 beta and vdarea of 2.10 +/- 0.36 h, 12.36 +/- 0.57 h and 1.23 +/- 0.07 L/Kg, respectively. A high vdarea as well as a value of 0.74 +/- 0.08 for K12:K21-beta (tissue approximately equal to Plasma) indicates better penetration of the drug into the different body fluids and tissues, which is further supported by a high concentration obtained in milk and uterine fluid. The therapeutic concentration (greater than or equal to 50 micrograms/ml) was maintained for around 24 h in plasma and milk and 12 h in uterine fluid. The results suggest that, apart from its use in systemic infections, the drug can be effectively used by the i.v. route in uterine and mammary gland infections. The dosages for maintaining concentration of 50 micrograms/ml, 100 micrograms/ml and 150 micrograms/ml at convenient dosage intervals of 12 and 24 h were also determined.