Comparison of Injectable Versus Oral Enrofloxacin Pharmacokinetics in Red-Eared Slider Thirties, Trachemys scripta elegans

Abstract

A bstract: Three male and three female red-eared slider turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans, were given an intramuscular (IM) injection of enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg body weight). Blood was obtained from a peripheral vein, and plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were measured at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hr post injection. A fter a period of six weeks, the same anim als were given oral doses of enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg body weight). Blood was obtained and plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were measured at 1, 2, 5, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 hr post oral dosing. The highest mean concentra­ tions of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were 6.28 pg/ml 2 hr and 0.42 pg/ml 7.4 hr after IM injection and 3.44 pg/m l 5 hr and 0.35 pg/m l 6 hr after oral adm inistration. The mean apparent elim ination half-life of enrofloxacin was 17.6 hr after IM injection and 32.8 hr after oral adm inistration. The half-life for ciprofloxacin was 28.4 hr post IM administration and 59.6 hr post-oral administration. This study demonstrat­ ed that therapeutic blood levels of enrofloxacin could be achieved in red-eared sliders when administered at 5 mg/kg IM or 10 mg/kg orally.