Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the intramuscular pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in black vultures (Coragyps atratus). The pharmacokinetics of a single intramuscular dose (10 mg/kg) of enrofloxacin was studied in six vultures. Plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite, ciprofloxacin, were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLCuv). Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using non-compartmental and compartmental analysis. After intramuscular administration, enrofloxacin showed a rapid and complete absorption, reaching a Cmax value of 3.26 ± 0.23 μg/mL at 1.75 ± 0.53 h. A long terminal half-life of 19.58 h has been observed. Using previously published MIC values to perform a PK/PD analysis, cumulative fraction responses obtained after Monte Carlo simulation for AUC/MIC > 30, 50 and 125 were 72.93%, 72.34% and 30.86% for E. coli and 89.29%, 88.89% and 58.57% for Mycoplasma synoviae, respectively. Cumulative fraction responses obtained for Cmax/MIC index were 33.93% and 40.18% for E. coli and M. synoviae, respectively. The intramuscular administration of 10 mg/kg could be appropriate to treat infectious diseases caused by gram-positive bacteria with MIC value lower than 1 µg/mL; however, although enrofloxacin showed a slow elimination in black vultures, plasma concentrations were insufficient to reach the gram-negative stablished breakpoints.
Highlights
Black vultures, as obligate scavengers, are of great value for their ecosystems by removing carrion and facilitating the flow within the food chain
Infectious diseases are a common issue in these New World vultures; they are susceptible to Pasteurella multocida and sepsis involving other gram-negative bacteria, for which a broad-spectrum therapy with, for example, enrofloxacin, is indicated [3,4]
Intramuscular administration of enrofloxacin is a practical route of administration, studies reporting the intramuscular behaviour of enrofloxacin in birds of prey are scarce [13]
Summary
As obligate scavengers, are of great value for their ecosystems by removing carrion and facilitating the flow within the food chain This species is distributed along the American continent, being widely represented, in South and Central America, and in the south of North America [1,2]. Enrofloxacin may be considered a good choice in cases of pododermatitis, showing evidence of persistent or deep infection [5] This drug is very frequently used in the treatment of infectious diseases of vultures admitted in wildlife rehabilitation centres by the intramuscular (im) route. Intramuscular administration of enrofloxacin is a practical route of administration, studies reporting the intramuscular behaviour of enrofloxacin in birds of prey are scarce [13]
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