Pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin after single dose intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous administration to loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta

Abstract

The single-dose disposition kinetics of the antibiotic danofloxacin were determined in clinically normal loggerhead turtles (n = 6) after intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SC) and intramuscular (IM) administration of 6 mg kg -1 bodyweight. Danofloxacin concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The concentration-time data were analyzed by non-compartmental kinetic methods. Steady-state volume of distribution, and total body clearance of danofloxacin after IV administration were estimated to be 1.02 ± 0.17 l kg -1 and 0.11 ± 0.01 l h-1 kg-1, respectively. Following IM and SC administration, danofloxacin achieved maximum plasma concentrations of 10.25 ± 4.59 and 10.35 ± 4.45 mg l -1 at 1.20 ± 0.52 and 1.46 ± 0.48 h, respectively. The absolute bioavailabilities after SC and IM routes were 98.72 ± 11.73 and 104.81 ± 14.97%, respectively. Danofloxacin shows a favourable pharmacokinetic profile in loggerhead turtles reflected by parameters such as a long half-life and a high bioavailability following a single dose of 6 mg kg-1 by IM and SC routes; thus, it is likely that this treatment will be effective in loggerhead turtles with bacterial infections. © Inter-Research 2008.