Comparative pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in clinically normal horses and donkeys.
Abstract: To determine the disposition of a bolus of meloxicam (administered IV) in horses and donkeys (Equus asinus) and compare the relative pharmacokinetic variables between the species. Methods: 5 clinically normal horses and 5 clinically normal donkeys. Methods: Blood samples were collected before and after IV administration of a bolus of meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg). Serum meloxicam concentrations were determined in triplicate via high-performance liquid chromatography. The serum concentration-time curve for each horse and donkey was analyzed separately to estimate standard noncompartmental pharmacokinetic variables. Results: In horses and donkeys, mean +/- SD area under the curve was 18.8 +/- 7.31 microg/mL/h and 4.6 +/- 2.55 microg/mL/h, respectively; mean residence time (MRT) was 9.6 +/- 9.24 hours and 0.6 +/- 0.36 hours, respectively. Total body clearance (CL(T)) was 34.7 +/- 9.21 mL/kg/h in horses and 187.9 +/- 147.26 mL/kg/h in donkeys. Volume of distribution at steady state (VD(SS)) was 270 +/- 160.5 mL/kg in horses and 93.2 +/- 33.74 mL/kg in donkeys. All values, except VD(SS), were significantly different between donkeys and horses. Conclusions: The small VD(SS) of meloxicam in horses and donkeys (attributed to high protein binding) was similar to values determined for other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Compared with other species, horses had a much shorter MRT and greater CL(T) for meloxicam, indicating a rapid elimination of the drug from plasma; the even shorter MRT and greater CL(T) of meloxicam in donkeys, compared with horses, may make the use of the drug in this species impractical.
Publication Date: 2006-06-03 PubMed ID: 16740106DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.67.6.1082Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research study examines the pharmacokinetics of the drug meloxicam when given intravenously to clinically healthy horses and donkeys. The study found significant differences in how each animal species processed the drug, potentially making the use of meloxicam in donkeys impractical due to rapid elimination from their bodily system.
Study Methodology
- The study involved five clinically healthy horses and five healthy donkeys. The number of subjects was comparatively low, but adequate for preliminary comparative analysis.
- Each subject received an intravenous (IV) bolus of meloxicam, administered at a dosage of 0.6 mg/kg.
- Blood samples were gathered before and after administering the drug. Blood serum was then analysed via high-performance liquid chromatography to determine the concentration of meloxicam at various time intervals.
- The researchers generated a concentration-time curve for each subject to derive and compare essential noncompartmental pharmacokinetic variables.
Study Results
- The area under the curve (AUC), which reflects the overall exposure of the body to the drug, was significantly higher in horses compared to donkeys.
- Mean residence time (MRT), or the average length of time the drug stays in the body, was considerably shorter in donkeys compared to horses.
- Total body clearance (CL(T)), which indicates the volume of blood cleared of the drug per unit time, was significantly higher in donkeys than horses.
- The volume of distribution at steady state (VD(SS)), a parameter indicating the distribution of the drug in the body, was similar in both species. However, it was somewhat higher in horses than donkeys.
Study Conclusions
- The study concluded that the small VD(SS), associated with high protein binding characteristics of meloxicam, was similar to values seen in other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Compared to other species, horses eliminated meloxicam more rapidly from the plasma, as seen from their shorter MRT and greater CL(T).
- Donkeys, on the other hand, had even shorter MRT and higher CL(T) compared to horses, which suggests that they might eliminate meloxicam more rapidly from their system, potentially rendering the drug impractical for use in this species.
Cite This Article
APA
Sinclair MD, Mealey KL, Matthews NS, Peck KE, Taylor TS, Bennett BS.
(2006).
Comparative pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in clinically normal horses and donkeys.
Am J Vet Res, 67(6), 1082-1085.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.67.6.1082 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / blood
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacokinetics
- Area Under Curve
- Equidae / blood
- Female
- Health
- Horses / blood
- Male
- Meloxicam
- Species Specificity
- Thiazines / blood
- Thiazines / pharmacokinetics
- Thiazoles / blood
- Thiazoles / pharmacokinetics
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Ebner L, O O, Simon B, Lizarraga I, Smith J, Cox S. Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol following intravenous and intramuscular administration in donkeys: A preliminary study. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:979794.
- Nethathe B, Phaswane R, Abera A, Naidoo V. Molecular characterization of Gyps africanus (African white-backed vulture) organic anion transporter 1 and 2 expressed in the kidney. PLoS One 2021;16(5):e0250408.
- Bazzano M, Di Salvo A, Diaferia M, Veronesi F, Galarini R, Paoletti F, Tesei B, McLean A, Veneziano V, Laus F. Anthelmintic Efficacy and Pharmacokinetics of Ivermectin Paste after Oral Administration in Mules Infected by Cyathostomins. Animals (Basel) 2020 May 28;10(6).
- Mendoza Garcia FJ, Gonzalez-De Cara C, Aguilera-Aguilera R, Buzon-Cuevas A, Perez-Ecija A. Meloxicam ameliorates the systemic inflammatory response syndrome associated with experimentally induced endotoxemia in adult donkeys. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Jul;34(4):1631-1641.
- Mendoza FJ, Serrano-Rodriguez JM, Perez-Ecija A. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam after oral administration of a granule formulation to healthy horses. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):961-967.
- Vivancos M, Barker J, Engbers S, Fischer C, Frederick J, Friedt H, Rybicka JM, Stastny T, Banse H, Cribb AE. Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of 2 meloxicam oral dosage formulations in healthy adult horses. Can Vet J 2015 Jul;56(7):730-6.
- Bauer C, Frost P, Kirschner S. Pharmacokinetics of 3 formulations of meloxicam in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2014 Sep;53(5):502-11.
- Ingrao JC, Johnson R, Tor E, Gu Y, Litman M, Turner PV. Aqueous stability and oral pharmacokinetics of meloxicam and carprofen in male C57BL/6 mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2013 Sep;52(5):553-9.
- Boocock H, Flyps J, Escobar A, Redondo JI, Taylor PM, Gozalo-Marcilla M, Johnston GM, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Sullivan R. Donkey and Hybrid Anaesthetic Mortality in an Observational, Prospective, Multicentre Cohort Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 25;15(13).
- Mendoza FJ, Buzon-Cuevas A, Aguilera-Aguilera R, Gonzalez-De Cara CA, De Las Heras A, Perez-Ecija A. Hemodynamic Response to Lipopolysaccharide Infusion and Effect of Meloxicam Administration on Cardiac Function in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 18;14(24).
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