PHARMACOKINETIC BEHAVIOR OF ENROFLOXACIN AND ITS METABOLITE CIPROFLOXACIN IN URUTU PIT VIPERS(BOTHROPS ALTERNATUS)AFTER INTRAMUSCULAR ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

Enrofloxacin is widely used in veterinary medicine and is an important alternative to treating bacterial infections, which play an important role as causes of disease and death in captive snakes. Its extralabel use in nontraditional species has been related to its excellent pharmacokinetic and antimicrobial characteristics. This can be demonstrated by its activity against gram-negative organisms implicated in serious infectious diseases of reptile species with a rapid and concentration-dependent bactericidal effect and a large volume of distribution. Pharmacokinetic parameters for enrofloxacin were investigated in seven urutu pit vipers (Bothrops alternatus), following intramuscular injections of 10 mg/kg. The plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and its metabolite, ciprofloxacin, were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Blood samples were collected from the ventral coccygeal veins at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 108, and 168 hr. The kinetic behavior was characterized by a relatively slow absorption (time of maximal plasma concentration = 4.50 +/- 3.45 hr) with peak plasma concentration of 4.81 +/- 1.12 microg/ml. The long half-life during the terminal elimination phase (t1/2 lambda = 27.91 +/- 7.55 hr) of enrofloxacin after intramuscular administration, calculated in the present study, could suggest that the antibiotic is eliminated relatively slowly and/or the presence of a slow absorption in urutu pit vipers. Ciprofloxacin reached a peak plasma concentration of 0.35 microg/ml at 13.45 hr, and the fraction of enrofloxacin metabolized to ciprofloxacin was 13.06%. If enrofloxacin's minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) values of 0.5 microg/ml were used, the ratios AUC(e+c): MIC90 (276 +/- 67 hr) and Cmax(e+c): MIC90 (10 +/- 2) reach the proposed threshold values (125 hr and 10, respectively) for optimized efficacy and minimized resistance development when treating infections caused by Pseudomonas. The administration of 10 mg/kg of enrofloxacin by the i.m. route should be considered to be a judicious choice in urutu pit vipers against infections caused by microorganisms with MIC values < or = 0.5 microg/ml. For less susceptible bacteria, a dose increase and/or an interval reduction should be evaluated.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluations of a 10 mg/kg enrofloxacin intramuscular administration in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps): a preliminary assessment

“…However, marked differences have also been reported within the reptile order (Papich, ). The present study has shown an average HL λz of E that is shorter than that reported in Trachemis turtles (47 h) (Giorgi et al ., ) and vipers (27 h) (Waxman et al ., ), similar to that reported in alligator (21 h after iv administration) (Helmick et al ., ), but higher than in pythons (6 h) (Young et al ., ), highlighting once again the importance of the species‐specific pharmacokinetic studies.…”

A Critical Review on the Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Opioid Drugs Used in Reptiles

“…This raises the question of whether drug disposition may be significantly different between lizard and snake species. However, similar CL has been observed between geckos ( Agius et al., 2020 ), bearded dragons ( Salvadori et al., 2017 ) and rattlesnakes ( Waxman et al., 2015 ) in non-opioid drugs such as enrofloxacin. Thus, whether drug CL differs within the squamates likely depends on the drug of interest.…”

Surgical Removal of Necrosed Venom Gland in Indian Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja)- A Case Report

“…that corroborated with the findings of Bennett (1991). Use of enrofloxacin was found to be effective to control bacterial infection as it has activity against gram-negative organisms implicated in serious infectious diseases of reptile species with a rapid and concentration-dependent bactericidal effect (Waxman et al, 2014). In this case meloxicam was used as NSAID, which works mainly peripherally decreasing prostanoids that facilitates the generation and conduction of pain impulses (Bouts and Gasthus, 2002).…”