Comparative Pharmacokinetics of Antifungal Drugs in Domestic Turkeys, Red-Tailed Hawks, Broad-Winged Hawks, and Great-Horned Owls

Abstract

The present research was to test in vitro activity of thiabendazole, 5-fluorocytosine, and amphotericin B against 11 isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus from avian species. Additionally, the plasma concentrations of these drugs were determined in four avian species given a range of dosages by oral, intravenous, and intratracheal routes. Thiabendazole inhibited most isolates in vitro at concentrations between 25 and 50 micrograms/ml; however, there were no detectable inhibitory concentrations in the plasma of any species at any of the doses. The arithmetic mean minimum inhibitory in vitro concentration for 5-fluorocytosine against the 11 Aspergillus isolates was 2.73 micrograms/ml. Inhibitory concentrations of 5-fluorocytosine were found 2 and 6 hours post-administration in all species when given oral doses of 30 or 60 mg/kg as a single dose or when given three divided doses a day totaling 120 mg/kg. No inhibitory concentrations were found 24 hours post-administration. Inhibitory concentrations of amphotericin B were found only 2 and 6 hours post-administration in birds receiving three doses of 1.5 mg/kg at 2-hour intervals. The arithmetic mean minimum inhibitory in vitro concentration for amphotericin B against 11 isolates of A. fumigatus was 0.81 micrograms/ml.