Pharmacokinetics in horses involves the study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in equine species. This field of study provides insights into the time course of drug concentrations within the horse's body and helps in understanding the effects of various pharmaceuticals. Key parameters in equine pharmacokinetics include absorption rates, bioavailability, half-life, and clearance. These parameters can vary significantly due to factors such as age, breed, and health status of the horse. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the pharmacokinetic profiles of different drugs in horses, aiming to optimize dosing regimens and improve therapeutic outcomes in equine medicine.
Watanabe R, Huruta H, Ueno Y, Nukada T, Niwa H, Shinyashiki N, Kano R.Luliconazole (LCZ) is an imidazole antifungal medication that exhibits excellent activity against dermatophytes. As a topical cream and lotion (approved for human use), LCZ has demonstrated a broad spectrum of activity against human dermatophytoses. Objective: This is the first study to investigate the in vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates from horse dermatophytoses to LCZ. Methods: No animals were used in this study. Methods: In the present study, the in vitro susceptibilities of clinical isolates of dermatophytes to LCZ, clotrimazole (CTZ), miconazole (MCZ) and terbinafine (TRF) wer...
Knych HK, Arthur RM, Gretler SR, McKemie DS, Goldin S, Kass PH.Flunixin meglumine is a highly efficacious nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used in equine medicine and especially in performance horses. Recently, a new transdermal flunixin meglumine product has been approved for use in cattle. Although not currently approved for use in the horse, the convenience of this product may prove appealing for use in horses, warranting study. Six horses were administered a single transdermal dose of 500 mg and blood and urine samples collected for up to 96 h post-administration. Serum for determination of thromboxane concentrations and whole blood samp...
Neudeck S, Twele L, Kopp V, Kästner S.The aim was to determine the effects of vatinoxan on dexmedetomidine plasma concentrations and effects on cardiovascular and intestinal tissue pharmacodynamics. In a prospective randomized study, six horses were premedicated intravenously with dexmedetomidine 3.5 µg kg followed by a constant-rate infusion of 7 µg kg h (group DEX) and six horses with dexmedetomidine of the same dose (bolus and constant-rate infusion) combined with vatinoxan 130 µg kg followed by 40 µg kg h (group VAT). Anaesthesia was induced with ketamine and diazepam and maintained with isoflurane. Venous bloo...
Willette C, Aarnes TK, Lerche P, Ricco-Pereira C, Ballash GA, Bednarski RM.To assess anesthetic induction, recovery quality and cardiopulmonary variables after intramuscular (IM) injection of three drug combinations for immobilization of horses. Methods: Randomized, blinded, three-way crossover prospective design. Methods: A total of eight healthy adult horses weighing 470-575 kg. Methods: Horses were administered three treatments IM separated by ≥1 week. Combinations were tiletamine-zolazepam (1.2 mg kg), ketamine (1 mg kg) and detomidine (0.04 mg kg) (treatment TKD); ketamine (3 mg kg) and detomidine (0.04 mg kg) (treatment KD); and tiletamine-zolazepam (2.4 mg ...
Guptill JT, Raja SM, Juel VC, Walter EB, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Hill H, Sendra E, Hauser B, Jackson P, Swamy GK.Botulism is a rare, life-threatening paralytic disease caused by Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). Available treatments, including an equine antitoxin and human immune globulin, are given postexposure and challenging to produce and administer. NTM-1632 is an equimolar mixture of 3 human IgG monoclonal antibodies, B1, B2, and B3, targeting BoNT serotype B (BoNT/B). This first-in-human study assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and immunogenicity of NTM-1632. This double-blind, single-center, placebo-controlled dose escalation study randomized 3 cohorts of healthy vol...
Schenk I, Machnik M, Broussou D, Meuly A, Roques BB, Lallemand E, Düe M, Röttgen H, Lagershausen H, Toutain PL, Thevis M.In horses, the benzodiazepine diazepam (DIA) is used as sedative for pre-medication or as an anxiolytic to facilitate horse examinations. As the sedative effects can also be abused for doping purposes, DIA is prohibited in equine sports. DIA is extensively metabolized to several active metabolites such as nordazepam, temazepam and oxazepam (OXA). For veterinarians, taking into account the detection times of DIA and its active metabolites is needed for minimizing the risk of an anti-doping rule violation. Therefore, a pharmacokinetic study on 6 horses was conducted using a single intravenous (...
Dockalova H, Zeman L, Baholet D, Batik A, Skalickova S, Horky P.Milk thistle seeds contain a mixture of flavonoids known as silymarin, which consists of silybin, isosilybin, silychristine, and silydianin. Until now, there has been no evidence of monitoring the digestibility of silymarin complex in horses. The aim of the research was to evaluate the digestibility of silymarin complex and the effect of nutrient digestibility in horses. Different daily feed doses (FD) of milk thistle expeller (0 g, 100 g, 200 g, 400 g, 700 g) were administered to five mares kept under the same conditions and at the same feed rations. Digestibility of silymarin complex was mon...
Chapuis RJJ, Smith JS, Uehlinger FD, Meachem M, Johnson R, Dowling PM.The objectives of this study were to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and the efficacy of oral administration of doxycycline (DXC) in horses with Streptococcus zooepidemicus tissue infections. Tissue chambers (TC) were implanted subcutaneously in the cervical region of 7 horses and inoculated with a single S. zooepidemicus isolate with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.25 µg/ml, determined by agar dilution. Doxycycline hyclate (10 mg/kg, orally, q 12 h, for 5 days) mixed with poloxamer gel was started following inoculation. The TC fluid was samp...
Wallace GE, McKaba VF, Reinhart JM, Li Z, Austin S, Fries RC.Large vessel and microvascular thrombi are common complications in systemically ill horses contributing to patient morbidity and mortality. Apixaban, an oral factor Xa inhibitor, shows excellent efficacy against stroke and deep vein thrombosis in humans. The purpose of this study was to determine serum apixaban concentrations and anti-factor Xa activity in horses after orally administered apixaban. Five horses received a single dose of intravenous (0.09 mg/kg) and oral (1 mg/kg) apixaban in a cross-over design. Serum apixaban concentrations and anti-Xa activity were measured serially via liq...
Knych HK, McKemie DS, Kanarr KL, White SD.To characterize the pharmacokinetics of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) following single-dose IV or PO administration, characterize the pharmacokinetics of MMF following long-term PO administration, and describe the clinicopathologic effects of long-term MMF administration in horses. Methods: 12 healthy adult horses. Methods: In phase 1, 6 horses received a single IV (2.5 mg/kg) or PO (5 mg/kg) dose of MMF in a randomized balanced crossover assessment (≥ 2-week interval between administrations). In phase 2, 6 other horses received MMF for 60 days (5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 30 days and then 5 mg/kg...
Sandbaumhüter FA, Gittel C, Larenza-Menzies MP, Theurillat R, Thormann W, Braun C.The enantioselectivity of the pharmacokinetics of methadone was investigated in anesthetized Shetland ponies after a single intravenous (0.5 mg/kg methadone hydrochloride; n = 6) or constant rate infusion (0.25 mg/kg bolus followed by 0.25 mg/kg/h methadone hydrochloride; n = 3) administration of racemic methadone. Plasma concentrations of l-methadone and d-methadone and their major metabolites, l- and d-2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), respectively, were analyzed by CE with highly sulfated γ-cyclodextrin as chiral selector and electrokinetic analyte injection from...
Raisis AL, Mosing M, Hosgood GL, Secombe CJ, Adler A, Waldmann AD.Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) provides clinically useful lung images; however, it would be an advantage to extract additional cardiovascular information from the data. The aim of this study was to evaluate if cardiac-related changes measured by EIT can be used to measure pulse rate (PR) under physiological as well as high and low blood pressure states in anaesthetised horses. Electrical impedance tomography data and PR from seven horses anaesthetised in dorsal recumbency were recorded over 1 min during mechanical ventilation and 1 min of apnoea. Data were collected at four measurement ...
Gustafsson K, Tatz AJ, Dahan R, Britzi M, Soback S, Ahmad WA, Prince H, Kelmer G. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of metronidazole in the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) of the thoracic limb after administering metronidazole to standing horses by intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP). Methods: Eleven healthy horses had a wide rubber tourniquet applied to the proximal aspect of the antebrachium for 0.5 hours and 500 mg of metronidazole diluted in physiologic saline solution to a total volume of 108 mL was administered by cephalic IVRLP. Synovial fluid samples were collected from the DIPJ before perfusion and at 0.25, 0.5, 2, 12 ...
Bessonnat A, Vanore M.Evaluate the effect of repeated doses of topical 1% cyclopentolate hydrochloride alone and in combination with topical 2.5% phenylephrine on pupil diameter (PD), tear production (STT-1), intraocular pressure (IOP), digestive function (gut motility and feces production), and heart rate (HR). Methods: Six healthy mares. Methods: In a prospective, randomized, controlled, and crossover design study, the left eye of six healthy mares was administered 0.2 mL of cyclopentolate alone and in combination with 0.2 mL of phenylephrine. The drugs were administered 3 times a day for 1 day, twice a day fo...
Stewart HL, Engiles JB, Richardson DW, Levine DG.To describe the bactericidal and fungicidal properties of a 0.0005% chlorhexidine (CHD) solution potentiated with EDTA-Tris buffers (CHD-EDTA-Tris) and evaluate the safety of 0.0005% CHD-EDTA-Tris in the upper respiratory tract (URT) of normal horses. Methods: Clinical, prospective study. Methods: Eight healthy, skeletally mature horses. Methods: In vitro-serial dilutions of CHD-EDTA-Tris and EDTA-Tris alone were evaluated for bactericidal and fungicidal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus equi subspecies ssp. equi, Streptococcus equi ...
Wiederkehr A, Barbarossa A, Ringer SK, Jörger FB, Bryner M, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R. To assess drug plasma levels, preanesthetic sedation, cardiopulmonary effects during anesthesia and recovery in horses anesthetized with isoflurane combined with medetomidine or xylazine. Prospective blinded randomized clinical study. Sixty horses undergoing elective surgery. Thirty minutes after administration of antibiotics, flunixine meglumine or phenylbutazone and acepromazine horses received medetomidine 7 μg kg (group MED) or xylazine 1.1 mg kg (group XYL) slowly intravenously (IV) and sedation was assessed 3 min later. Anesthesia was induced with ketamine/diazepam and maintained wi...
Ström L, Dalin F, Domberg M, Stenlund C, Bondesson U, Hedeland M, Toutain PL, Ekstrand C.Topical ophthalmic atropine sulfate is an important part of the treatment protocol in equine uveitis. Frequent administration of topical atropine may cause decreased intestinal motility and colic in horses due to systemic exposure. Atropine pharmacokinetics are unknown in horses and this knowledge gap could impede the use of atropine because of the presumed risk of unwanted effects. Additional information could therefore increase safety in atropine treatment. Results: Atropine sulfate (1 mg) was administered in two experiments: In part I, atropine sulfate was administered intravenously and t...
Natalini CC, Paes SD, Polydoro ADS.The study aim is to compare the effects of epidural administration of two different doses of romifidine combined with morphine in horses. A prospective crossover blinded experimental design was used. Five adult healthy horses two males and three females with a mean body weight of 380 ± 45 Kg (335-425 kg), were studied. Treatments consisted of romifidine 30 μg/kg (R30) or 60 μg/kg (R60) combined with morphine 0.1 mg/kg with a washout interval of 72 hours, administered through an epidural catheter placed at the first intercoccygeal space. Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (f), pH, blood ga...
de Wasseige S, Picotte K, Lavoie JP.A study reported low systemic availability of injectable dexamethasone nebulized to healthy horses using the Flexineb mask. When used in horses with severe asthma and a different nebulizer, lack of efficacy and cortisol suppression were observed. Objective: Nebulized dexamethasone is as effective as PO administration for the treatment of severe asthma in horses. Methods: Twelve horses with severe asthma from a research herd. Methods: Randomized clinical trial. Horses were divided into 2 groups and received 5 mg of dexamethasone sodium phosphate by nebulization using a Flexineb mask (NE, n = 6)...
Lawless SP, Moorman VJ, Hendrickson DA, Mama KR.To compare efficacy and safety of a continuous rate infusion of detomidine hydrochloride and romifidine hydrochloride for standing elective bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares. Methods: Blinded, randomized prospective clinical study. Methods: Eighteen healthy mares presenting for elective bilateral ovariectomy METHODS: Mares were randomly assigned to one of two sedation protocols. Prior to surgery, baseline head height, heart rate, respiratory rate, and postural sway were recorded. An IV loading dose of α2-agonist (46 μg/kg romifidine or 13.9 μg/kg detomidine) was administered. S...
Ryan D, McKemie DS, Kass PH, Puschner B, Knych HK.The increasing availability of cannabidiol (CBD) and anecdotal reports of its anti-inflammatory effects has garnered it much interest in the equine industry. The objectives of the current study were to (1) describe the pharmacokinetics of oral CBD in exercising thoroughbreds, (2) characterize select behavioral and physiologic effects, and (3) evaluate effects on biomarkers of inflammation using an ex vivo model. This study was conducted in a randomized balanced 3-way crossover design with a two-week washout period between doses. Horses received a single oral dose (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg) of CBD...
Crabtree NE, Epstein KL.Despite the frequent inclusion of fluid therapy in the treatment of many conditions in horses, there are limited studies available to provide evidenced-based, species-specific recommendations. Thus, equine fluid therapy is based on the application of physiology and extrapolation from evidence in other veterinary species and human medicine. The physiologic principles that underly the use of fluids in medicine are, at first glance, straightforward and simple to understand. However, in the past 20 years, multiple studies in human medicine have shown that creating recommendations based on theory i...
Mosichuk AP, Smith JS, Tatarniuk DM, Troy JR, Kreuder AJ.Septic synovitis is a critical orthopedic condition in horses. Early intervention is key, with antibiotic therapy typically initiated prior to culture and susceptibility reports becoming available. The pharmacokinetics of several antibiotics have been studied in horses for use in intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) for septic synovitis, including the carbapenem antibiotic, meropenem. For a variety of factors, some veterinary clinicians may select IVRLP meropenem as therapy for these cases. Meropenem is a vital antibiotic in human medicine, making veterinary use divisive. However, verif...
Flynn H, Cenani A, Brosnan RJ, DiMaio Knych HK, de Araujo Aguiar AJ.To determine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of high-concentration formulation of buprenorphine (1.8 mg mL; Simbadol) following subcutaneous (SC) administration in horses. Methods: Prospective, randomized, crossover trial. Methods: A group of six healthy adult horses weighing 521-602 kg. Methods: On three occasions, Simbadol (0.005 mg kg; treatment S5), (0.0025 mg kg; treatment S2.5) or saline (treatment SAL) were administered SC at least 7 days apart in random order. Electrical nociceptive threshold (ENT) measured on the neck region, physiologic variables, locomotor activity, degree...
Leventhal HR, McKenzie HC, Estell K, Council-Troche M, Davis JL.The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of tulathromycin (Draxxin ; 2.5 mg/kg once) after intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), and slow intravenous (IV) administration to six adult horses. A three-phase design and 4-week washout period were used. Drug concentrations in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and pharmacokinetic parameters calculated using noncompartmental analysis. Following SC and IM administration, all horses exhibited sweating, discomfort,...
Skrzypczak H, Reed R, Brainard B, Sakai D, Barletta M, Quandt J, Smyth C, Ruch M, Knych H.Matrix fentanyl patches have not been investigated in horses and may represent an effective means of providing analgesia over an extended time period without venous catheterisation. Objective: To describe the pharmacokinetics of a matrix transdermal fentanyl patch in horses. Methods: Randomised experiment, Latin-square design. Methods: Six adult horses were given each of three treatments with a 96-hour washout. For each treatment, two 100 µg/h matrix fentanyl patches were applied to the inguinal region (TXA), metacarpus (TXM) or ventral tail base (TXT) for 72 hours. Blood samples for fentan...
Knych HK, Magdesian KG.Equine antimicrobial therapy has advanced over time with the availability of increasing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in horses, allowing for greater evidence-based clinical decision-making. However, many challenges to optimal antimicrobial therapy remain and further research is needed to address these areas. There are a limited number of approved antimicrobials for use in horses, which creates a need for compounded preparations for clinicians. Extra-label drug use is commonplace in equine practice, which warrants continual education of veterinarians about policies and updates. P...
Mathew B, Philip M, Perwad Z, Karatt TK, Caveney MR, Subhahar MB, Karakka Kal AK.Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilizer belongs to a novel class of pharmacologically active substances, which are capable of inducing the endogenous erythropoietic system. The transcriptional activator HIF has been shown to significantly increase blood hemoglobin and is well set for the treatment of anemia resulting from chronic kidney disease. This research work reports a comprehensive study of the most popular HIF stabilizer roxadustat and its metabolites in thoroughbred horse urine after oral administration. The plausible structures of the detected metabolites were postulated using liqui...
Abu-Basha EA, Bani Ismail Z, Ababneh MM, Hamzeh E, Gehring R.This study was designed to investigate the safety and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of tildipirosin in horses after intravenous (i.v.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of a single dose at 4 mg/kg of body weight (b.w.). A total of 12 healthy mixed breed horses were used in the study. Horses were monitored for systemic and local adverse effects, and whole blood samples were collected for hematology and plasma biochemistry analysis at time (0) and at 6, 24, and 72 h after drug administration. For PK analysis, blood samples were collected at pre-determined times before and after tildipirosin adm...
Darby S, Sanchez LC, Mallicote MF, House AM, Plummer CE, Nadruz V, Benmoha RH, Roberts SM, Derendorf H, Silva-Sanchez C, Claire J, MacKay RJ.Creeping indigo (Indigofera spicata) toxicosis is an emerging problem among horses in Florida and bordering states. Objective: To quantify the putative toxins l-indospicine (IND) and 3-nitropropionic acid (NPA) in creeping indigo collected from multiple sites and to measure plasma toxin concentrations in ponies fed creeping indigo and horses with presumptive creeping indigo toxicosis. Methods: Experimental descriptive study with descriptive observational field investigation. Methods: Air-dried creeping indigo was assayed for IND and NPA content. Five ponies were fed chopped creeping indigo con...
Verhaar N, Pfarrer C, Neudeck S, König K, Rohn K, Twele L, Kästner S.Pharmacological preconditioning of dexmedetomidine on small intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion injury has been reported in different animal models including horses. Objective: The objective was to assess if xylazine and lidocaine have a preconditioning effect in an experimental model of equine jejunal ischaemia. Methods: Terminal in vivo experiment. Methods: Ten horses under general anaesthesia were either preconditioned with xylazine (group X; n = 5) or lidocaine (group L; n = 5). A historical untreated control group (group C; n = 5) was used for comparison. An established experimental mo...
Betbeze CM, Wu CC, Krohne SG, Stiles J.To evaluate the in vitro antifungal properties of silver sulfadiazine (SSD) and natamycin against filamentous fungi isolated from eyes of horses with keratomycosis. Methods: Filamentous fungal isolates obtained from eyes of keratomycosis-affected horses. Methods: Fungal culture of ocular samples yielded 6 Fusarium spp; 7 Aspergillus spp; and 1 isolate each of Curvularia, Scopulariopsis, Penicillium, and Chrysosporium. For each fungal isolate, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of SSD and natamycin were determined. Results: For all 17 fungal isolat...
Ringer SK, Portier KG, Fourel I, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R.To determine constant rate infusion (CRI) protocols for romifidine (R) and romifidine combined with butorphanol (RB) resulting in constant sedation and romifidine plasma concentrations. Methods: Blinded randomized crossover study. Methods: Ten adult research horses. Methods: Part I: After determining normal height of head above ground (HHAG = 100%), loading doses of romifidine (80 μg kg(-1)) with butorphanol (RB: 18 μg kg(-1)) or saline (R) were given intravenously (IV). Immediately afterwards, a butorphanol (RB: 25 μg kg(-1) hour(-1)) or saline (R) CRI was administered for 2 hours. The HHA...
Banse H, Cribb AE.The efficacy of oral phenylbutazone [PBZ; 4.4 mg/kg body weight (BW), q12h], a non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and oral meloxicam (MXM; 0.6 mg/kg BW, q24h), a COX-2 selective NSAID, were evaluated in 2 experimental pain models in horses: the adjustable heart bar shoe (HBS) model, primarily representative of mechanical pain, and the lipopolysaccharide-induced synovitis (SYN) model, primarily representative of inflammatory pain. In the HBS model, PBZ reduced multiple indicators of pain compared with the placebo and MXM. Meloxicam did not reduce indicators of pain rela...
Semrad SD, Hardee GE, Hardee MM, Moore JN.The efficacy of low doses of flunixin meglumine in reducing eicosanoid generation and clinical signs in response to experimentally induced endotoxaemia was investigated. Thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha were measured in serum and plasma by radioimmunoassay. Plasma flunixin concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and pharmacokinetic parameters derived non-compartmentally. In horses administered flunixin meglumine before endotoxin challenge, a significant suppression in plasma thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha generation was observe...
Jacks S, Giguère S, Gronwall PR, Brown MP, Merritt KA.To determine the pharmacokinetics of azithromycin and its concentration in body fluids and bronchoalveolar lavage cells in foals. Methods: 6 healthy 6- to 10-week-old foals. Methods: Azithromycin (10 mg/kg of body weight) was administered to each foal via i.v. and intragastric (i.g.) routes in a crossover design. After the first i.g. dose, 4 additional i.g. doses were administered at 24-hour intervals. A microbiologic assay was used to measure azithromycin concentrations in serum, peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid, pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (PELF), and bronchoalveolar (BAL) cells. Resul...
Aida H, Mizuno Y, Hobo S, Yoshida K, Fujinaga T.The effects of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane on hemodynamic, pulmonary and blood chemistry variables were measured during spontaneous and controlled ventilation in healthy horses. Sevoflurane was the only anesthetic drug administered to the horses. In a dose-dependent manner, sevoflurane significantly decreased (P < .05) mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, and stroke volume. There was a progressive decrease in peripheral vascular resistance and an increase in heart rate as the concentration of sevoflurane was increased, but the differences w...
Dória RG, Carvalho MB, Freitas SH, Laskoski LM, Colodel EM, Mendonça FS, Silva MA, Grigoletto R, Fantinato Neto P.Treatment for horses with pythiosis of a limb is challenging. This study aims to evaluate the effects of administering amphotericin B in a 10 % solution of dimethylsulfoxide by intravenous regional limb perfusion (IRLP) to treat horses for cutaneous pythiosis of a limb. Results: All 15 of the horses treated had complete resolutions of their lesion between 6 to 9 weeks after a single IRLP treatment. No complications were observed at the site of venipuncture for IRLP. Before initiation of treatment, there was anemia and marked leucocytosis which resolved following treatment. Serum biochemistry ...
Ringger NC, Lester GD, Neuwirth L, Merritt AM, Vetro T, Harrison J.To investigate the prokinetic effect of bethanechol and erythromycin in the upper gastrointestinal tract of healthy horses by measuring the gastric emptying (GE) rate of a radioactive meal. Methods: 4 healthy adult horses. Methods: After food was withheld for 12 hours, horses were given 370 MBq of 99mTc-labeled sulfur colloid incorporated into egg albumen and 37 MBq of 111In-labeled diethyltriaminepentaacetic acid in 120 ml of water via nasogastric intubation. Intravenously administered treatments were 0.9% NaCl solution, erythromycin (0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg of body weight), or bethanechol (0.25 mg/...
McFarlane D, Banse H, Knych HK, Maxwell LK.The objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of pergolide in horses with PPID after of long-term oral administration. Six horses with confirmed PPID were treated with pergolide (Prascend ) at 1 mg/horse po q24 h for 2 months, followed by 2 mg/horse po q24 h for 4 months. Following the last dose, plasma samples were collected for measurement of pergolide using an LC/MS/MS method and ACTH measurement using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. Noncompartmental and compartmental pharmacokinetic analyses were performed, as well as p...
van Duijkeren E, Vulto AG, Sloet van Oldruitenborghoosterbaan MM, Mevius DJ, Kessels BG, Breukink HJ, van Miert AS.The biopharmaceutical properties of four fixed trimethoprim/sulfonamide combinations were investigated in the horse. Eight fasted horses were dosed at 1 week intervals in a sequentially designed study with one intravenous (i.v.) and three oral trimethoprim/sulfadiazine (TMP/SDZ) formulations (1, 2 and 3) administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg trimethoprim (TMP) and 25 mg/kg sulfadiazine (SDZ). Plasma concentrations of each compound were monitored for 48 h. Pharmacokinetic parameters (volume of distribution, bioavailability and total body clearance) for TMP and SDZ were calculated and compared. Afte...
Thomasy SM, Slovis N, Maxwell LK, Kollias-Baker C.This study investigated the pharmcokinetics, efficacy, and safety of the fentanyl transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) in horses in which there was an inadequate analgesic response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone. Nine horses with pain that was refractory to therapeutic doses of phenylbutazone (n = 3) or flunixin meglumine (n = 6) subsequently also received between 39 and 110 microg/kg of transdermal fentanyl. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours after patch application, and a radioimmunoassay was used to determine serum f...
Corado CR, McKemie DS, Young A, Knych HK.Metabolism is an essential factor in the clearance of many drugs and as such plays a major role in the establishment of dosage regimens and withdrawal times. CYP2D6, the human orthologue to equine CYP2D50, is a drug-metabolizing enzyme that is highly polymorphic in humans leading to widely differing levels of metabolic activity. As CYP2D6 is highly polymorphic, in this study it was hypothesized that the gene coding for the equine orthologue, CYP2D50, may also be prone to polymorphism. Blood samples were collected from 150 horses, the CYP2D50 gene was cloned and sequenced; and full-length seque...
Latimer FG, Colitz CM, Campbell NB, Papich MG.To determine the pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in horses. Methods: 6 clinically normal adult horses. Methods: Fluconazole (10 mg/kg of body weight) was administered intravenously or orally with 2 weeks between treatments. Plasma fluconazole concentrations were determined prior to and 10, 20, 30, 40, and 60 minutes and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours after administration. A long-term oral dosing regimen was designed in which all horses received a loading dose of fluconazole (14 mg/kg) followed by 5 mg/kg every 24 hours for 10 days. Fluconazole concentrations were determined i...
Delekta PC, Dobry CJ, Sindac JA, Barraza SJ, Blakely PK, Xiang J, Kirchhoff PD, Keep RF, Irani DN, Larsen SD, Miller DJ.Neurotropic alphaviruses, including western, eastern, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses, cause serious and potentially fatal central nervous system infections in humans for which no currently approved therapies exist. We previously identified a series of thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole derivatives as novel inhibitors of neurotropic alphavirus replication, using a cell-based phenotypic assay (W. Peng et al., J. Infect. Dis. 199:950-957, 2009, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/597275), and subsequently developed second- and third-generation indole-2-carboxamide derivatives with improved potency, solub...
Combie J, Shults T, Nugent EC, Dougherty J, Tobin T.The locomotor responses of horses given morphine and fentanyl were blocked or lessened by administration of naloxone or acepromazine. Naloxone given at the dosage of 0.015 mg/kg completely blocked the locomotor activity induced in horses given fentanyl (0.020 mg/kg of body weight). The locomotor stimulation produced by morphine given at the dosage of 2.4 mg/kg was reduced by 75% of naloxone (0.020 mg/kg). Acepromazine partially blocked the locomotor responses to fentanyl and morphine. This blockade activity reached its peak about 30 minutes after acepromazine was given (IV) and lasted more tha...
Collard WT, Cox SR, Lesman SP, Grover GS, Boucher JF, Hallberg JW, Robinson JA, Brown SA.Absolute bioavailability and dose proportionality studies were performed with ceftiofur in horses. In the absolute bioavailability study, thirty animals received either an intravenous dose of ceftiofur sodium at 1.0 mg/kg or an intramuscular (i.m.) dose of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid (CCFA) at 6.6 mg/kg. In the dose proportionality study, 48 animals received daily i.m. ceftiofur sodium injections at 1.0 mg/kg for ten doses or two doses of CCFA separated by 96 h, with CCFA doses of 3.3, 6.6, or 13.2 mg/kg. Noncompartmental and mixed-effect modeling procedures were used to assess pharmacokin...
Spelta CW.Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a neurodegenerative disease of the hypothalamus, resulting in the loss of dopaminergic inhibition of pars intermedia. An oxidative stress injury of unknown etiology has been suggested to initiate the neurodegeneration. While hypertrichosis (formerly known as hirsutism) is considered pathognomic for advanced disease, the antemortem diagnosis of subclinical and early disease has continued to prove difficult. Numerous tests have been used with varying sensitivities and specificities. The overnight dexamethasone suppression test, originally do...
McKellar QA, Bogan JA, von Fellenberg RL, Ludwig B, Cawley GD.Carprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was administered to three Thoroughbred geldings and three Shetland ponies to determine its plasma disposition and tolerance. The main pharmacokinetic characteristics of carprofen in horses and ponies were a volume of distribution of 0.08 to 0.32 litres/kg (mean +/- se = 0.23 +/- 0.04) a systemic clearance of 26.4 to 78.5 ml/min (mean +/- se = 44.9 +/- 8.0) and a plasma elimination half-life of 14.5 to 31.4 h (mean +/- se = 21.9 +/- 2.3). There was no evidence of any accumulation of carprofen in plasma when the drug was given orally at a...
Lees P, McKellar Q, May SA, Ludwig B.The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) carprofen have been evaluated in 6 horses using a model of acute non-immune inflammation. Following intravenous administration of 0.7 mg racemic carprofen/kg bwt, mean values for pharmacokinetic parameters were 18.1 h (elimination half-life); 0.25 l/kg (volume of distribution, Vd[area]); 58.9 ml/min (clearance); and 57.9 micrograms/ml.h (area under plasma concentration time curve). Mean exudate:plasma concentration ratios exceeded 1.0 at all sampling times between 2 and 48 h. Swelling at the site of ac...
Morresey PR, Mackay RJ.To measure serum polymyxin B concentration after single and repeated IV infusions in horses. Methods: 5 healthy horses. Methods: In study 1, 1 mg (6,000 U) of polymyxin B/kg was given IV and blood samples were collected for 24 hours. In study 2, 1 mg of polymyxin B/kg was given IV every 8 hours for 5 treatments and blood samples were collected until 24 hours after the last dose. Polymyxin B concentration was measured as the ability to suppress nitrite production by murine macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-alpha. Urine was collected prior to the first drug infusion a...
Scare JA, Leathwick DM, Sauermann CW, Lyons ET, Steuer AE, Jones BA, Clark M, Nielsen MK.An alternative control regimen for drug-resistant parasites is combination deworming, where two drugs with different modes of action are administered simultaneously to target the same parasite. Few studies have investigated this in equine cyathostomins. We previously reported that an oxibendazole (OBZ) and pyrantel pamoate (PYR) combination was not sustainable against a cyathostomin population with high levels of OBZ and PYR resistance. This study consisted of a field study and two computer simulations to evaluate the efficacy of a moxidectin-oxibendazole (MOX-OBZ) combination against the same...
Guglick MA, MacAllister CG, Clarke CR, Pollet R, Hague C, Clarke JM.To determine pharmacokinetics of i.v., i.m., and oral administration of cefepime in horses and to compare pharmacokinetics of i.m. administration of cefepime with those of ceftiofur sodium. Methods: 6 clinically normal adult horses. Methods: Horses received 3 doses of cefepime (11 mg/kg of body weight, PO; 2.2 mg/kg, i.v.; and 2.2 mg/kg, i.m.) and 1 dose of ceftiofur (2.2 mg/kg, i.m.). Two horses also received L-arginine, p.o. and i.v., at doses identical to those contained in the cefepime dihydrochloride-L-arginine preparations previously administered. Blood samples were collected for 24 hour...
Foreman JH, Barange A, Lawrence LM, Hungerford LL.The objective was to test the hypothesis that phenylbutazone (PBZ) alleviates lameness in an adjustable heart bar shoe model of equine foot pain. Eight Quarter Horse mares underwent 4-weekly treatments randomly: 0.9% saline placebo (SAL: 1 mL/45 kg body weight i.v.) with no lameness; SAL with lameness; PBZ (4.4 mg/kg body weight i.v.) with no lameness; and PBZ with lameness. Blinded heart rate (HR) and lameness score (LS) were assessed every 20 min for 2 h and then hourly through 9 h. At 1 h SAL or PBZ was administered. Jugular venous samples were obtained at hours 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 and wer...
Holland B, Fogle C, Blikslager AT, Curling A, Barlow BM, Schirmer J, Davis JL.The objectives of this study were to compare the pharmacokinetics and COX selectivity of three commercially available formulations of firocoxib in the horse. Six healthy adult horses were administered a single dose of 57 mg intravenous, oral paste or oral tablet firocoxib in a three-way, randomized, crossover design. Blood was collected at predetermined times for PGE2 and TXB2 concentrations, as well as plasma drug concentrations. Similar to other reports, firocoxib exhibited a long elimination half-life (31.07 ± 10.64 h), a large volume of distribution (1.81 ± 0.59L/kg), and a slow clearanc...
Slocombe JO, McCraw BM, Pennock PW, Vasey J.Twelve pony foals were reared worm-free and inoculated with Strongylus vulgaris. Approximately 8 weeks after they were inoculated, 6 foals were given ivermectin IM at a dosage rate of 200 micrograms/kg of body weight and 6 were given a placebo. All foals were necropsied 35 days after treatment. Ivermectin was 98.9% effective in eliminating later 4th-stage S vulgaris larvae located near the origin of major intestinal arteries and in reducing clinical signs and permitting resolution of lesions associated with verminous arteritis. One pony foal reared on pasture and with evidence of arteritis of ...