Influence of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide induced fever on the plasma kinetics of cefquinome in buffalo calves

Abstract

The pharmacokinetic behavior of cefquinome was studied in healthy and febrile buffalo calves after single intramuscular administration (2 mg/kg). The fever was induced with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (1 μg/kg, IV). The drug concentration in plasma was detected by HPLC method. Pharmacokinetic analysis of disposition data indicated that intramuscular administration data were best described by one-compartment open model. At 2.5 min, concentrations of cefquinome in healthy and febrile animals were 2.21±0.38 and 2.52±0.38 μg/ml, respectively, and drug was detected up to 24 h. The peak plasma levels of cefquinome in febrile buffalo calves (7.70±0.46μg.ml^-1) and healthy buffalo calves (6.70±0.46μg.ml^-1) were achieved at 45 min and 30 min, respectively. The absorption half life (t1/2ka) of cefquinome was similar in healthy and febrile buffalo calves. Drug distribution was altered by fever as febrile animals showed volume of distribution (0.37±0.07L/kg) lower than healthy animal (0.69±0.04 L/ kg). Total body clearances in healthy and febrile animals were 0.09 and 0.04 L/kg/h, respectively. To maintain minimum therapeutic concentration of 0.1 mg/ml, a satisfactory dosage regimen of cefquinome in healthy and febrile buffalo calves would be 2.8 mg/kg and 1.2 mg/kg body weight, respectively, to be repeated at 24 h intervals.